It's Your Move

Tech Data: Nikon D-70; AF-S Nikkor 18-70 lens @ 70 mm;

1\30 sec @ f22; Diffused Sunlight

Portfolio: Still Life

Shuttered Window

House on Paseo Redondo... Downtown Tucson Arizona

Tech Data: Nikon D-70; AF-S Nikkor 18-70 lens @ 60mm;
1\500 sec @ f11

Portfolio: Still Life

Busted

Town Marshall... Patagonia Arizona

Tech Data: Nikon D-70; AF-S Nikkor 18-70 @ 35mm;

1\500 sec @ f11; Full Morning Sun

Portfolio: Signs of the Times

Fire Charred Skeletons

Tech Data: Nikon D-70; AF-S Nikkor 18-70 @ 18mm;

1\400 @ f11; Clouds and Fog

Portfolio: Where Fire Has Been

(Submitted for Photo Friday 06 Oct 2006: "Thin")

On Daddy's Shoulders (Photo Friday: Girl)

Red Bird of Paradise

Tech Data: Nikon D-70; AF-S Nikkor 18-70 @ 62mm;

1\500 sec @ f11

Portfolio: Flora

The Fallen Leaf

Tech Data: Nikon D-70; AF-S Nikkor 18-70 @ 70 mm;
1\250 @f8; Open Shade

Portfolio: Looking Down

Maria and Friend

Tech Data: Nikon D-70; AF-S Nikkor 18-70 mm @ 38 mm; 1/60 @ f8

Portfolio: People

Blue Door (Photo Friday: Bright)

Tech Data: Nikon D-70; AF-S Nikkor 18-70 lens @ 35 mm; 1\500 @ f11; Full Sun

Portfolio: Colors

Hole In The Fence

Tech Data: Nikon D-70; AF-S Nikkor 18-70 lens @ 70 mm; 1\3 sec @ f29; Overcast Daylight

Portfolio: Still Life

But Is It Art?

Tech Data: Nikon D-70; AF-S Nikkor 18-70 @ 31mm;
1\500 sec @ f8; Daylight

Portfolio: Street Scenes

Remembering Lt Joseph "Joey" Agnello FDNY Ladder Co 118 Brooklyn Heights October 10 1965 - September 11 2001

Joseph "Joey" Agnello

Joseph Agnello was a career firefighter with the Fire Department of New York... but was described by his family and friends as not being defined by his life's work... rather a guy who loved his wife VinnieCarla... his kids Salvatore and Vincent... took pleasure in his dogs... and thoroughly loved life.

On the morning of September 11 2001... Agnello and 5 of his fellow firefighters aboard Ladder 118 responded to what was to become their final fire. They parked their rig at West and Vesey Street by the towers... and vanished into the thick cloudy smoke and soot of the Marriott World Trade Center Hotel.

Pastor Michael Carrano at Assumption Church located around the corner from the firehouse described Joey and the crew of Ladder 118 as having "hearts of gold that you can't find at the end of any rainbow."

Accounts by those rescued speak of the Ladder 118 crew ushering hundreds of the building occupants to safety. Survivor Bobby Graff says... "Their families should be proud of them. They knew what was going on, and they went down with their ship. They weren't going to leave until everyone got out. They must have saved a couple hundred people that day. I know they saved my life."

Graff recalls... "Joey helped me bring handicapped people down from the 19th floor in the elevator. We then went up to the 12th floor where people were screaming and brought them down. Then the mayday call came on the radio and the command was 'Get out! Get out! Get out!'. Joey and the other guys used their bodies like a brace... like a riot squad... directing the people out. They knew what was coming, but they stayed where they were. I'll never forget that. The men of Ladder 118 died side by side."

Joey Agnello with Salvatore (left) and Vincent (right)

Upon hearing the story of Joey's final moments... Agnello's widow VinnieCarla said... "I always knew that my husband died helping others, and I knew in my heart that he was helping people up until the minute he died, but I didn't know how. This is so incredible - knowing what happened that day is a gift that I can give my sons."

A memorial service for Joey Agnello was held October 10 2001. He was recovered from the fallen towers in the early morning hours of January 1 2002... and was laid to rest January 4.

According to Agnello's wife VinnieCarla... Joey was a simple man... and never took credit for his accomplishments... nor wanted for material possessions. He found comfort and happiness in the little things... being with his family and looking up at the sky on a starry night. "Sometimes..." She says... "when I take the dogs to the beach for a walk and I look up... I know he's still around. Like tonight. There's the most beautiful moon... and I know he's with me."

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

John 15:13

(Eyewitness accounts and comments by VinnieCarla Agnello were retrieved from articles in New York's Newsday. Official memorial poster designed by Lee Hanson and can be ordered from http://www.imagefactorygraphics.com)

The Mohawk (PhotoFriday: Boy)

Tech data: Nikon D-70; AF-S Nikkor 18-70 @60mm; 1\60 sec @ f4.5; daylight

Portfolio: Family

Miss Fancy Toes

Tech Data: Nikon D-70; AF-S Nikkor 18-70 lens @ 70mm; 1\60 sec @ f4.5; Full flash

Portfolio: Color

Queen of the Night

One of the strangest... although not that unusual... plants of the desert is the Cereus cactus... otherwise known as "The Queen of the Night".

If a bud forms and matures into a bloom... for one night and one night only... her exquisitely scented and glorious white flower opens as night falls... and then closes forever with the first rays of the morning sun.

This is the first and only bloom on this cactus we've had for about 5 years now... and Monday night... Labor Day evening... was her time to grace the twilight with her beauty.

Tech Data: Nikon D-70; AF-S Nikkor 18-70 lens @ 70mm; 1\125 sec @ f11; Diffused flash

Portfolio: Flora

Almost... But Not Quite

The control relief joints of a sidewalk at a local park almost meet... but not quite.

Tech Data: Nikon D-70; AF-S Nikkor 18-70mm lens @ 70mm; 1\100 sec @ f29; Daylight

Portfolio: Looking Down

Cascading Through a Chain of War

A fountain cascading through an anchor chain salvaged from a World War II battleship. Photograph taken at the University of Arizona Student Union Memorial Center.

Tech Data: Nikon D-70; Nikkor 55-200mm @100mm; F4.5 @1\60; Natural light