Customer Reviews

Aftermath: Unseen 9/11 Photos by a New York City Cop

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

After viewing all of this books photos and reading the captions and liner notes I find it difficult to understand why this author is being chastised in the press. It seems that the author was not just chronicling the tragic events of 9/11 but was an active participant in the recovery effort who sacrificed his own health in an unselfish manor. Future generations will be able to understand the scope of this tragedy and the emotions and sacrifices of the rescue workers because of Mr. Botte's photos. If Mr. Botte is wrongfully accused of publishing this book for personal gain then Hollywood and the news media should be judged in the same light when they profit from theater sales or increased Nielsen ratings. How many producers or directors can claim that they paid a personal price on 9/11.

5 Years later America and the world needs to be reminded of what happened in NYC, and this book does that. Striking photos take you to the WTC in the middle of America's worst days. The photographer is paying a personal price for this event, I know he was medically retired from the NYPD from an illness he got from being exposed to the air at Ground Zero. This is a book people need to look at and remember the sacrifices of the police, fire and other rescue workers.

I understand that ppl are upset about this book. I feel they really shouldnt be, It is a beautiful book.. There are no dead bodies laying around, Just heartfelt pictures of men and women. The author did not take these pix because he was amused by the situation, He took pictures that we could remember for the rest of our lives. In the world we live in, Where major holidays are just a day to spend money and we forget the real reason they are there. Blood money? I think not, This man was a NYPD officer.. He worked with these ppl, These are his family... How did he pay for the rolls of film? Do you think he was given that money? I dont think so.. How did he pay to publish the book.. NYPD? I dont think so.. I think before you judge a person, You should atleast look at the book. I feel the ppl here making these horrible accusations are just ppl that are bored with life and really could care less about this book. These ppl need to get a life and fight the real injustice in the world.. Poverty,Child Abuse,etc...I say bravo to John Botte and I cannot wait to see whats next.

I bought both Aftermath books for my wife who is a photographer. Her opinion is this book is the better of the two. While it might be smaller and in black and white, it has a much better depth of feeling to the pictures presented.
Another is the fact is Botte's pictures start from the day of, while unfortunately, Meyerowitz's start from the 23rd. One can't help but feel for Meyerowitz when he describes the travails he went through to get access to the site. However this leaves a gap of almost 2 weeks that are sorely and sadly missing from Meyerowitz's history. Especially of the leaders who visited the site in the aftermath.

I can't speak for the controversy over the book but he shortened his life in making this book that will be used, once my son is old enough (he was only 3months on 9/11), to explain what happened that fateful day.

I have yet to purchase the book (which I am doing next), but I have seen it. It is a respectful memorial, a beautiful record, and more. But I wonder why some reviewers have "picked" on Mr. Botte for having been on the clock while he tooks these pictures, and presenting that as argument in favor of Joel Meyerowitz book, or others. I've just listened to an NPR interview with Mr. Meyerowitz in which he admited to forging a pass to get others in the site to help him do the work. I am glad he did, for the sake of history, of keeping the record for those of us who weren't there, but... why is this better than a cop taking his camera out every once in a while and shooting some photos while "on the clock"?? It doesn't take any longer than stopping to chat with a friend, or whatever... (Incidentally, I am glad Mr. Meyerowitz went around the system; someone really needed to worry about the historical record in a moment when most were worried about more urgent matters and those in charge were more worried with securing the site) As for who should get the money from the sale of the book? Well, Mr. Botte has said he'll make donations after he has recovered the costs of making the book. To my knowledge, Mr. Meyerowitz has not given up his royalties, and neither has the Museum of the CIty of New York. Above Hallowed Ground is a book whose profits do go to the NYPD; if that is the concern, I guess that's the book to buy, but many, from the film industry to TV and radio are profiting from this event; picking on a NYPD officer for shooting (at his own cost) while "on the clock" seems to just be a petty argument.

I have a number of 9/11 photo books. I found that Mr. Botte's images were far more powerful and more real than most. His images are amazing and he deserves the credit for seeing the images in the event. He is also a victim of that day, and in light of his medical problems resulting from his days on the 'pile', his life will no doubt be cut short for his experiences. So, from that point of view, his book is one of the few from the perspective of the victims. He speaks for the dead and the dying. His pictures will carry his memory. Thank you, Mr. Botte, for the memories. May we never forget.

This book gives the reader a feeling of what the rescue workers were enduring while cleaning up the area known as ground zero. The black and white photographs used by Mr. Botte gives the reader a feel of the grit and grime the workers were going through on a daily basis.It also gives you a behind the scenes look at some of the visitors to ground zero. I found this book gives the reader a real feel of the tireless efforts being put in by volunteers and workers at the site. A must read for anyone who can never forget that day and a rememberance for those who were not born yet.

Former officer John Botte has done a wonderful job putting together images of the immediate aftermath of 9/11. The black-and-white photos show both the tragedy and hope of the people involved in the rescue -- and later, simply the clean-up -- of this horrific event.

The only thing I would have enjoyed more would have been captions for all of the photographs. As it stands, only about one in ten of the pictures has any type of explanation.

I have been following the controversy in the papers and can't help but notice that there is a similarly titled book by Joel Meyerowitz slipping under the radar. Botte was at the crime scene as a cop, Meyerowitz as an employee of the Museum of New York. Who has more of a right to publish his work? What about all the photos popping up in several people's memoirs.

If you want to be angry at something try:
-All the sad conspiracy books popping up all over amazon
-The empty hole greeting the 5th anniversary

The book shows the NYPD as it faced its greatest challenge.
That is why I bought it. That is why I like it.
The guy who cut the departments starting pay to 25K should fix that before worrying about suing a retiree.

This book captures the horror first responers faced during the aftermath of the attack,This is the first book I have seen that truely captures the agony of these brave woman and men who tried relentlessly to find victims.The facial expressions of some of the responders says it all.I thank men like John Botte who not only helped during the recovery efforts but in between photographed the aftermath of this Attack on America.Hopefully thanks to the people who documented this Attack America won't soon forget.