Occupy Facebook
When I went down to Zuccotti Park for the first time to cover the "Occupy Wall Street" movement, I noticed something: I missed the point in time where we all turned into reporters. Bizarre scenes played out in front of me - tourists with their camera phones standing in the middle of the street like Zombies, and middle aged women climbing on top of mailboxes in order to get the perfect shot.I decided to work on the other side this time and face questions from fellow photographers like: "What are you - taking pictures of people taking pictures?" Yes indeed. And I think the result shows a new side of the whole idea behind the movement and explains slogans like #OWS or @occupy.The Occupy Wall Street movement will be one of the most documented public events in the history of mankind. It has been covered from every side, angle, Canon and camera phone. From hipster to hillbilly, there are as many photographers as there are protesters. Society's need to make their personal lives public has come to the edge of a parody. Most don't need to know or care what the 'cause' is as long as they can 'tweet' they were there. 'Let's go see the circus!'. If you can't figure it out, at least you can take a picture home with you.
Photographed by Reto Sterchi in October/November 2011 in Manhattan
Published in 100eyes Magazine in December 2011
