Up-Right

One World Trace Center, NYC, New York

During a relaxing October afternoon, I was on a personal mission at The Big Apple to add new shots to my portfolio. The sky was a bit cloudy on that particular occasion, which was the perfect excuse to pursue a black-and-white photograph.

Black and white are often symbols for binary opposites, such as Good and Evil, Right and Wrong, or Up and Down. In this analogy, we can relate these two colors to the expression "Upright."

Uprightness, as a virtue, refers to being honest and morally correct. It is about standing tall, both physically and ethically. Just as an upright person does not bend or compromise their principles, an -upright- object does not bend or lean to one side.

While wondering what in NYC could be an emblem of Uprightness, staying tall and vertical, these analogies helped me to relate those thoughts to the One World Trade Center.

The One World Trade Center represents resilience, strength, and unity, much like the expression "Upright." This unique landmark represents the rebuilding and rejuvenation of New York City after the tragic events of September 11. The expression "Upright" also connotes a sense of resilience and fortitude, as it refers to a person or thing that is standing tall and firm.

With all this in my head, I led the grounds of the OWTC in search of a unique shot that could convey all these components.

It was a challenging endeavor; since this landmark had been captured by the lenses of thousands of photographers worldwide. But, after carefully framing dozens of perspectives and angles, a street signpost that loomed just above my head served as the ultimate, unrivaled inspiration for the shot.

I was aiming my camera UP, and this signpost clearly stated the word RIGHT twice on it. So this angle was not just a MUST, but even it has the word MUST on it.

So it was literally a SIGN to shoot this picture, aiming my camera UP at this RIGHT angle; of course, I couldn't help but name it Up-Right.

On a peculiar note, the first copy of this artwork was sold just a few days after a private preview to Jess, a lady with a very moving and romantic story. Jess purchased the artwork "Up-Right," as a surprise 10th-anniversary gift for her husband, Richard, who had just bought another of my photographs, "Vintage Solitude," a few days before. Unbeknownst to either of them, they had both purchased a piece of art for each other. I only discovered this serendipitous coincidence when I noticed that both purchases were shipped to the same address. Since then, Jess and Richard have become dear friends of mine, and I am reminded of the love and romance they share every time I think of these artworks.