Images say what words cannot

Sometimes a picture is worth more than a thousand words. Sometimes even a novel full of metaphors and flowery adjectives cannot describe what secrets lie within a photograph of an open Payless box with a pair of men’s shoes. A metal cross is taped on the inside top of the shoebox next to the words “Mark 9:2 v. 3: His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. I looked for you my union brother. I looked for you my baby brother! I love you Matthew Diaz: Your brother Michael!!!” This image is one of a hundred photographs, mostly untitled, featured in “Words Fail: A Photographer’s Essay,” by Richard Law. Law, also a teacher at the Berkeley Carrol School in Brooklyn, watched the World Trade Center crumble from the school’s rooftop. With the exception of two photographs taken of the towers Sept. 11, Law said his exhibit is inspired by what happened Sept. 12.”I felt we had evolved to another level of human consciousness and the news wasn’t covering it,” Law said. “I kept telling them ‘You’re missing the story.'” What Law chose to capture were the stories of those left behind, the outcry of kindness among people and the smiles and prayers exchanged among strangers. He said he hopes that the feeling of unity and peace will heighten with the anniversary of Sept. 11. Some students agree. “I remember that right after the attack, people even all the way down here, were being nicer to each other,” said Caroline Marcus, a sophomore general studies student from Albany, Ga. “I feel like we’ve stopped that. Maybe these photographs will remind us what is possible.” “I can’t believe it has almost been a year,” said Christopher Dickerson, 21, a senior criminal justice student from St. Petersburg. “The exhibit will probably be a good way to commemorate 9/11 without focusing on the negative.” “Words Fail” opens today at the Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science. Law is scheduled to speak at 5:30 p.m. As a part of Tallahassee First Fridays, entrance is free tonight from 4 p.m. -9 p.m. Entrance will also be free all day Sept. 11.