Service of Remembrance, Healing and Hope at West Side Presbyterian Church

Being asked to shoot six 9/11 memorials this year was a true honor.  I'm flattered that editors and event coordinators would entrust me with preserving memories for the 10th anniversary of that horrific day which stunned us all.

Sunday afternoon, I started doing a "man on the street" shoot, randomly approaching people to ask for their thoughts about 9/11, and to ask if they'd mind being photographed for the community website, Patch.com. 

I spoke with the local volunteer firemen who related how they all came to headquarters that day to help any way they could .. A psychoanalyst who tries to dwell on the positive aspects of 9/11, how it pulled us all together .. The mother of 3 children, two of whom were just toddlers 10 years ago .. A group of teens who remember their parents sad reactions that day .. A former phys ed teacher who watched the towers burn from the roof of a New Jersey field house .. And a business owner who said he wants to remember the feelings of vulnerability and community that 9/11 inspired.

West Side Presbyterian Church was the site for an afternoon remembrance in Ridgewood, NJ, where 12 of its residents were lost.  A majestic place with seating for hundreds, every seat was taken.  The orchestra and choir presented a moving rendition of Gabriel Faure's Requiem.  (Click on any photo to enlarge).

As a stained glass artisan, I was in awe of the craftsmanship in these windows.

Flash was not permitted.  All photos taken with my Nikon D300s and Nikkor 70-200mm VR II 2.8 lens.  Most at ISO800, various f stops and shutter speeds.

This woman's face was so haunting, her sorrow.

People took a great deal of comfort in being together on this day.

Sixty photos from this, and two other memorials shot today, can be seen by clicking here, on Ridgewood Patch.com.  (Due to issues with the site's uploader, the first several photos are not in order).