DPI celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2019 on October 6. Following my open heart bypass surgery in October 2018 I became even more committed to bringing the best of photojournalism and documentary photography to our viewers. In reviewing the images added to our collection this past year I believe that goal was achieved.
I have never been to Devil’s Tower in Wyoming and probably never will. For me, my “Close Encounter” will forever be Shiprock. In 2003 I was traveling through the Four Corners and to my left about 25 miles distant I could see Shiprock. Even at that distance I will never forget the sight of what appeared to be a sailng ship in the middle of the desert. It was easily recognizable. I never was able to get any closer in my travels.
The perfect shot. Henri Cartier-Bresson would have called this the “decisive moment”.
Enter the real world of teaching. Welcome to a New York City inner city high school classroom. I know. I was there. You could throw billions of dollars at what you make believe is the problem and never come close to solving it. What you see in this photo is not because the teacher was unqualified or lacked preparation for the lesson. Teachers do take all of the blame because they are easy targets. One does not enter a career in teaching for the money. If you don’t care about the kids and what you can give to them you don’t belong teaching.
Two iconic images from the past. The lead photo is “Manhattan Bridge“, c.1919. You can see the Municipal Building through the cables and a trolley entering the scene at the left. Below is “Penn Station“. c.1949.
Truly dread in its day. Obsolete nowadays as are older ships including aircraft carriers sold for pennies on the dollar for scrap. Makes you want to cry, but if not properly equipped with countermeasures they are little more than sitting ducks for new missile technologies.