An abstract photograph by Paul Doherty was recently used by the New York City Uniformed Firefighters Association to memorialize the World Trade Center. On Monday, Sept. 5, the organization posted the photo on their website to commemorate the events of 9/11.
The photo, which is actually an image of pilings reflected in the Oak Bluffs Harbor, resembles the Twin Towers in their former glory. Although Mr. Doherty never intended to produce an image that was anything but an abstract, he soon recognized the similarities of the picture to the former NYC landmark.
The original photo includes reflections on the water of a full line of pilings. It was taken while Mr. Doherty was at Jim’s Package Store, helping a woman pick up groceries (he volunteers with Vineyard Village, driving seniors to errands).
For the past two years, Mr. Doherty has been creating a series he calls “Reflective Abstractions.” He goes out on a kayak to capture interesting reflections of boats and other objects on the ocean. He carries his camera with him at all times, just in case an image grabs his attention. Such was the case a couple of weeks ago when he was waiting by the harbor for his passenger to finish her shopping.
“While waiting for her, I took my camera to see if I could find any reflective shots for my collection,” he said. “I looked over the pier and saw a group of pilings that had a wonderful reflective quality to them. Upon returning home, I noticed that the two center pilings reminded me of the Twin Towers. I cropped it, inverted it, and put it up on Facebook, causing a huge reaction.”
“Friends told me I should get in touch with the NYC Uniformed Firefighters Association,” Mr. Doherty said. “I sent an email, and within 12 hours they got back to me, saying they would love to use it.”
The image does have an eerie resemblance to the Twin Towers standing tall against a cloudless blue sky. The distortion caused by the water gives it the feel of a hazy memory. Mr. Doherty titled the photo “So That We Never Forget.” He plans to post it on Facebook on Sept. 11 in the hopes that others will repost and share it.
Mr. Doherty moved to the Vineyard from New York City with his spouse David Behnke in 2013. At the time Mr. Doherty, a successful TV actor, was recovering from brain surgery. He discovered that long walks on the beach helped alleviate his persistent migraine headaches and vertigo. Having always dabbled in photography, Mr. Doherty started snapping pictures of beach stones and selling them at the Featherstone Flea Market.
Early-morning outings on his kayak proved equally therapeutic, and the actor-turned- photographer found himself fascinated by the reflected images he encountered on the water. He started bringing his camera along. He has since created a number of reflection images, and he continues adding to the series.
The first public showing of Mr. Doherty’s photography, at the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse in February, was a huge success. He sold more than half of the limited-edition prints on display there.
In June, Mr. Behnke and Mr. Doherty opened an art gallery on Main Street, Vineyard Haven. The Behnke-Doherty Gallery specializes in contemporary and Asian art. Mr. Doherty’s photos have proved so popular that they were relocated from the back room of the gallery to a prominent wall space up front.
Mr. Doherty lived in New York City for 25 years before moving full-time to the Vineyard. He was out of town, caring for his ill mother, when the Twin Towers went down. He heard the news in real time as he was driving to do errands.
Returning to the city, Mr. Doherty was confronted by a city in mourning. He has enduring memories of that time in New York. “The haunting part is that David [a former JPMorgan financial analyst] was down in that area,” Mr. Doherty said. “He was able to get out. The day we went back to our building, the doorman, a not normally emotional older man, gave David a big bear hug. He was the only one unaccounted for in the building.”
“I remember walking along the West Side Highway about three or four days afterward and seeing thousands and thousands of sheets of paper. I just remember thinking, ‘These papers are people’s lives.’”
Mr. Doherty also recalls ash landing on his terrace days after the attacks, and the lingering acrid smell which permeated the city.
However, he also has inspiring memories from that trying time in history. “I remember how quiet and respectful it became in the city,” he said. “It became something that galvanized people to look out for each other.”
Mr. Doherty is proud that his photo has was selected by the Uniformed Firefighters Association, and pleased that, 15 years after the tragic events of 9/11, he is able to do something positive.
“It’s really important that we remember,” he said. “And that young people have this as part of their consciousness. That’s why I called it ‘So That We Never Forget.’”
Mr. Doherty will be posting the photo early on the morning of Sept. 11 on his Facebook page and on the Islanders Talk page. He encourages others to repost and share the image.
Paul Doherty’s abstract photographs will be featured in a solo show at Featherstone’s Pebble Gallery from Sept. 17 to 20, with an opening reception on Sunday, Sept. 18 from 4 to 6 pm. For more information, follow Paul F. Doherty on Facebook.
