Memorialized

So, I scheduled this blog post a while back, and amid the government shutdown, it feels strange to be writing about patriotism.

Nevertheless, my long term project, the Patriot Photo Project, seeks to highlight the September 11 Memorials throughout the United States and eventually internationally as well. Right now I am starting small and local - photographing in towns where I am already shooting and locally in New Jersey. My ultimate goal with these images is not only to gather a very powerful collection of images illustrating honor, sacrifice, and pride but also sorrow, desperation, and loss. To me, these emotions will forever be connected with September 11 and what September 11 means to the United States of America.

It's funny, (well not really funny) but as soon as I started posting my first set of images from this collection I received a private message. I had already touched someone's life. My photograph of a memorial in Jersey City captured a name on a wall - the name of some stranger's deceased loved one who was honored at that memorial. The message came from Europe. The world gets smaller and smaller every day.

Below you will find a few images from this collection, which is certain to grow in the coming months and years. Keep your eye on the online gallery - its changing regularly as more and more memorials pop up and are photographed by yours truly. (http://www.artworkinbloom.com/The-Patriot-Project)

The Empty Sky Memorial

The Paulus Hook 9/11 Memorial