RE: devil photo controversy/I am photographer

RE: devil photo controversy/I am photographer

born-digital

email

yes

no

2001-09-18

hey Mark....it is so good to hear from you! and I am glad to know that you are doing well....I, as well as many others here at the trib, had no idea that photo is yours. I must say that without your words to back it, I too found it hard to believe. But I am glad to know that it was shot by someone I know and trust to deliver truth. It is quite amazing to say the least. Thank you for sharing with me this letter and letting me know where you are. When I get home I intend to go to your web address and check out more of your stuff.<br>please keep in touch from time to time as it is good to know that one of my fellow RTCers is doing well.<br>I am still hanging in here at the Trib, almost 15 years believe it or not...seems like yesterday that I started here and found you also here. Keep up the good work.<br><br>Candace<br><br>-----Original Message-----<br>From: Mark D. Phillips<br>To: Mundy, Candace C.<br>Sent: 9/17/01 9:06 PM<br>Subject: devil photo controversy/I am photographer <br><br>Candace,<br><br>I have not been in contact with you for a long time but I find myself in the strange position of having to defend my integrity as a photographer. I shot the photograph of the World Trade Center burning that people are saying or implying was digitally manipulated to include the face of the devil.<br><br>As the photographer at the forefront of a controversy, I find it amazing that NO ONE in the media writing about it has bothered to talk to me about this image and give me the opportunity to defend my reputation. I would never "doctor" an image. The "face of the devil" occurred. <br><br>I sold this image to the AP for one time use prior to knowing it contained anything beside the twin towers burning. I transmitted this photo only minutes after it was shot.<br><br>As a photographer for three newspapers, The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse, I am amazed that anyone could call my reputation into question. I was inundated with email through my company website, http://www.stellarimages.com, to the point where I had to put up an open letter bringing everyone back to the fact that it is a photograph, not a religious or moral statement. Everyone has to look at this photograph and decide on their own what it shows.<br><br>AP is making statements about the photograph, without talking to me or defending me. Vin Alabiso has not returned my phone calls. I stand by my reputation of 25 years. I am no longer in the "news" business, starting an Internet company in 1994, but everyone I have worked with in the news industry knows the high standards I maintain. <br><br>I invite you to read my open letter on http://www.stellarimages.com or http://www.markdphillips.com and would hope that you would pass this on to other photographers you know and help me stop this. It has left a very bad taste in my mouth.<br><br>Sincerely,<br>Mark D. Phillips<br>President, StellarImages<br>718-858-8980 (work)<br>718-522-1341 (home - here now)<br>

Tue, 18 Sep 2001 09:30:07 -0400

RE: devil photo controversy/I am photographer