One World, One Freedom

Statue of Liberty & OWTC, NYC/New Jersey.

My soul craves these two landmarks, the iconic symbols of our world: the great Lady Liberty and the towering One World Trade Center.

My desire was to capture both in a single shot, to communicate a message of humanity's values and rights, one that is eternally relevant.

I went for this during a cloudy, windy morning in October when I rented a doors-off helicopter. I met the pilot very early in the morning to meticulously plan the shot.

As I arrived at the helicopter hangar, I was greeted by the pleasant aroma of freshly brewed coffee. The pilot briefed me on safety procedures, and the land crew provided me with a safety harness designed for doors-off helicopter flights that would keep me secure in turbulence or an emergency.

The aircraft's ceiling held a sturdy rail to which I attached a heavy-duty climbing cord in my harness; this allowed me to position myself almost anywhere along and across the passenger area, allowing me to aim my camera freely. Then, with everything set, we took off into the air.

As the wind picked up, my nerves rattled with anxious anticipation, but my spirits soared with the first sight of Lady Liberty. The adrenaline flowed through me, and I could feel the excitement building as I prepared for the shot.

I framed the image, aligning One World Trade Center to the left, the middle of the image, and Lady Liberty to the right, with the Hudson River flowing horizontally between them. The concept I wanted to transmit starts with ONE, represented by One World Trade Center, and ends with FREEDOM, represented by Lady Liberty. By placing the river in between, I created an analogy with humankind, as we are all a part of the ever-changing and fluid world, adapting and navigating the changing currents of life.

The visual symbolism was crucial to my message, and One World Trade Center represents ONE, while Lady Liberty represents FREEDOM. I color grade the image in black and white to add an artistic analogy and make the final piece more symbolic and concise.

Like black and white, freedom is a YES or NO condition that is easily identifiable and understood. There are no different gammas of freedom, and it should be ONE, the same, for anyone in the world.

As I looked at the final image, I felt the concept of "One World, One Freedom" could be effortlessly associated with it. The grandness of the landmarks and the simplicity of the image resonated deeply within me, and I knew it would evoke a powerful message to all those who laid their eyes on it.