When walls come tumbling down

This week I was invited to photograph a celebration of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. I jumped at the chance to do something so interesting and unique in Los Angeles. Starting out with a gala reception featuring the famous german chanteuse Ute Lemper and ending with the ceremonial tearing down of an artists' wall on Wilshire Blvd., the evening was filled with interesting people and great opportunities for photography. However, some of the activities kept me on my toes as they also provided challenges. In an effort to re-create the atmosphere of an old nightclub for the gala event the wonderful lighting people had used a chemical fog that enveloped the entire room. This resulted in a sultry ambiance that sent my camera readings off the charts and made capturing that "sultry" ambiance a bit (ahem) of a challenge. I have to admit that I did mutter under my breath on several occasions but I am very happy with the results. The street event also offered its own unique challenges having to fight for space with hundreds of media photographers who were just as determined as I to photograph the tearing down of the wall. I ended up hanging over a barricade on a platform overlooking the wall and praying that the barricade would hold. I think I have bruises in my abdomen from doubling my body over the fence. No pain no gain. Still, I would not trade in a moment of that evening. It was as if we were all participating in a historic event ourselves; over 700 people meeting on Wilshire Blvd., at midnight just to watch... how incredible is that? The photos have been posted under our cultural events category in the gallery: 2009 Fall of Berlin Wall Event. Enjoy!