This is topic 88 Xenons to light twin beam WTC memorial in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
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Posted by Gerard S. Cohen (Member # 994) on 03-04-2002, 10:08 AM:
On March 11th two parallel beams composed of 88 xenons will be turned on as a memorial to those who died in the terrorist attack on New York's World Trade Center. http://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/04/nyregion/04LIGH.html
100 bulbs valued at $1200 each were donated by General Electric,
who with individuals, and corporations led by Deutche Bank, AOL-Time Warner and others is helping to make up the $500,000 cost. Consolidated Edison is donating the power, which will burn from dusk to 11 PM nightly, but will be turned off when necessary for helicopter traffic, cloud cover and bird migration.
Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 03-05-2002, 07:28 AM:
Shortly after the tragedy, the New York Times Magazine section had a cover that showed the Trade Center site from a distance, and two beams of light streaming up to the heavens in place of the buildings. It is one of the most moving pictures I have ever seen. Nice to see this will really happen...should be a very emotional and powerful lighting.Thanks for posting this, Gerard. If you get a chance to see this display, please post a description.
Posted by Greg Mueller (Member # 17) on 03-05-2002, 09:08 AM:
Although I certainly appreciate the sentiment, shinning more light into the night sky is something I am totally against. This is a great example of light pollution at it's worst.------------------
Greg Mueller
Amateur Astronomer, Machinist, Filmnut
http://www.muellersatomics.com/
Posted by Gerard S. Cohen (Member # 994) on 03-05-2002, 07:13 PM:
Greg,
The issue of light polution is addressed in the NYTimes report link
above. By placing the lights in Battery Park, (whose BP City Administration approved the project) and turning the beams off when
cloud cover is low, the light should not disturb the quality of life of city residents. By linking the Federal Aviation Administration and the NYC Audubon Society with the technician in charge, the beams
will be turned off whenever they threaten air travel or aviary migration. And the memorial is temporary:
<"It's like a votive candle," said Saskia Levy, the project organizer
for the Municipal Art Society, the principal sponsor of the installation, "It will have its time and place. And then it will go out.">
My thought was that the beams might prove invisible, the way a projection beam cannot be seen in a theater unless there is sufficient dust or smoke present in the auditorium. I have seen Hollywood style searchlight displays fail at supermarket openings
because their beams could not be seen unless they illuminated cloud cover. But the xenon concept has been tested in Las Vegas, and the sponsors believe it will work in NYC, with its waterfront mist to make the beams visible. More details in the NYTimes four-page report
cited above.
Gerard
Posted by Owen Shave (Member # 1156) on 03-05-2002, 07:21 PM:
If you live in NYC I think two giant beams pointing to the sky is probably the least of your problems re: light pollution. I await with great interest tho how it will look. If you want to see it there is a site which has a webcam of the New York skyline. I believe it is www.nj.com ..check it out once they fire those babies up. Should be a fitting memorial.. certainly looks impressive in the 'artist's impression'.Owen
Posted by Jon Miller (Member # 163) on 03-10-2002, 11:40 AM:
I saw a report on "CBS Sunday Morning" on the tribute, including footage showing a technician lamping one of those "Space Cannons" without wearing a bomb suit or face mask, and with that 7K lamp about a foot-and-a-half away from his face. 
Nearly hit the ceiling seeing such stupidity played out on TV, although I reckon most viewers wouldn't even notice.
Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 03-10-2002, 01:15 PM:
Greg M is correct. It certainly IS light pollution at its worst.Big Media loves to go ga-ga over these kinds of stories. They're more appropriately called "Anniversary Junk Food News" -- cheap, easy, doesn't offend the rich and powerful.
Posted by Brad Haven (Member # 954) on 03-10-2002, 10:28 PM:
hi jon,
i saw that same report on the aussie news, i was quite shocked to see it!
Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 03-10-2002, 10:35 PM:
Perhaps it was a dummie for the news guys...er, ah, I mean the lamp.
Mark @ GTS
Posted by John Westlund (Member # 913) on 03-11-2002, 08:07 PM:
I saw that same news report with the guy installing the Xenon with no protective gear on at all. Not even some goggles or anything. At least I at least have goggles on in my picture. 
Posted by Gerard S. Cohen (Member # 994) on 03-11-2002, 08:51 PM:
I turned on the TV at 7:00PM only to find the lamps were switched on at 6:55, so I didn't see whether they were struck individually, or
in banks, or all at once. But the broad beams were brilliant blue
against a cobalt sky, with the lights of the city skyline like brilliant diamonds. Of the 18 broadcast TV channels I get from my rooftop antenna, 7 broadcast the lighting ceremony. After a while
the beams turned white. Perhaps blue glass filters were used, like
those used on the Empire State Building on 34th Street, which is
presently red/white/blue, but goes green for St Patrick's Day, and
other colors for other holidays or celebrations. On TV, from cameras
judiciously placed, the spectacle was most impressive!
From my house about ten miles away, the view was disappointing (there
are no hills in Forest Hills--they were leveled over a century ago.)
The beams were faint and white, with a white circle where they hit the clouds, washed out by the pink glow reflected from the sodium-vapor streetlamps in Forest Hills Gardens.
Posted by Bob Maar (Member # 763) on 03-11-2002, 09:15 PM:
Mark, The only "dummy" was the the guy carrying the lamp. It is sad as it would have been much more dramatic to have had him wearing the gear. Not to mention it would have been the right thing to do.
Posted by Gerard S. Cohen (Member # 994) on 03-12-2002, 06:30 PM:
Photos of the light memorial. the stories behind it, and full coverage of the ceremonies in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington
can be found at
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/12/nyregion/12MONT.html Gerard
Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 03-12-2002, 07:22 PM:
There was a good photo of this on the front page of today's Boston Globe.I'm surprised that they didn't get a bunch of carbon-arc searchlights instead of using the xenons, although they probably wanted something that didn't require an operator.
Posted by Aaron Haney (Member # 747) on 03-12-2002, 07:39 PM:
Here is a great photo by someone at photo.net: http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=628154
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 03-12-2002, 09:01 PM:
The picture of the beams lighting the sky was in this morning's paper, The Seattle Times. Aaron, that link you provided is a beautiful picture, although it was not the one that was printed on the front page of The Seattle Times, which was credited to Mike Derer of the Associated Press.
Just as a passing thought, I wonder if Strong International provided the search lamps. 616,000 watts worth of Xenon lamps really have quite a punch!
Meets Academy Standards... 
Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 01-23-2003, 04:13 PM:
Look for the "Twin Towers of Light" in the opening-credits montage of 25th Hour (about 5 minutes in).
At least one film critic has written about how Spike Lee worked a "9/11 memorial" subtext into the film.