There is a superstition that says “the way you bring in your new year is the way your year will go,” and if there is any truth to it, then I’m already off to a great start with my top goal for 2012. This New Years Eve I rang in the New Year photographing Jenna and Thomas’ 40s-themed New Year’s Eve celebration! Have you ever sat back and just watched what happens to people during the countdown? It’s quite amazing. And until this night, I didn’t understand it. The New Year is our opportunity to collect $200 and pass GO. It’s not starting over but its starting again with new chance and new hope. We’ve made it through the past year’s challenges, and somehow still have breath to rejoice in the triumphs.

I’m grateful for this new year, and for the new chance I have to get my resolutions and goals right once again, and for my friend who archived those resolutions.

Have a happy new year and make it a good one! (Just in case the Mayans are right.) Below are photos from the NYE party!

AK

Event Planner: Sweet Pea Events
Flowers:  DiFiori
Band:  Serenata String

My roommate (also a freshman from California) and I slept through the first plane crashing into the World Trade Center, only to be awakened by the blaring of both our phones (landlines) ringing and ringing over and over. I groggily answered, who could be calling both of us this early in the morning. My mother was frantically on the other end asking why we were sleeping through a terrorist attack. A terriorist attack? Huh? A plane crashed into the WTC and they are saying its a terriorist attack. It must be an accident. They are really tall you know… Awake now, my roommate and I began to get ready for class, glued to my the news on my television.

At some point, my roommate left our dorm for class only to return after the second plane hit and both towers had fallen. She left again to go give blood and I left with a group of friends and my disposable camera, of course, to go to campus. Having spent the morning watching it all on the news, not expecting the damage to be so destructive, we wanted to feel for ourselves what had happened. So we walked 10 blocks downtown on Broadway, against the hoard of people covered in soot walking uptown, away from the fallen towers.

As we walked, a massive cloud of dust was rising high above downtown Manhattan. My disposable camera could not quite capture the cloud for what it really was. And when I finally developed the photos, I was disappointed that the images just looked like a really foggy day.

So in 2007 when I found the photographs below, I couldn’t help but feel excited. They felt like the photos I failed to capture. I found them one day. I had been walking around Park Slope and I came across some books that someone had left on their stoop to share with the community. I chose to take The Alienist by Caleb Carr, even though I wasn’t completely interested but since it was free it looked good enough. Once at home, as I was adding the book to my shelf the prints fell out. Three of the images had been captured on September 11, 2001. I couldn’t believe it. On closer look at the photos, I noticed that they were taken at Washington Square Park and on West 4th Street. The photographer was on the NYU campus exactly where I was when they captured these images.

These photographs have become a gift to my memory. And I am so grateful for the photographer who forgot they were in that book. If you are reading, write and I will send them to you. (PS I remember the street I found them on, so no fakes!)

x AK

This shot taken from the Staten Island ferry was on the same roll of film.

View my PORTFOLIO ::: Tweet me @msAKnowles ::: CONTACT me

Meghana + Jacob wed in a Jewish and Indian interfaith ceremony.

View my PORTFOLIO ::: Tweet me @msAKnowles ::: CONTACT me

Jill + Dave kiss in front of the rainbow created by the lake’s fountain.

View my PORTFOLIO ::: Tweet me @msAKnowles ::: CONTACT me

♥ AK

View my PORTFOLIO ::: Follow me @msAKnowles ::: CONTACT me

Over the years, we made a couple other trips out to Vegas, including many New Year’s Eves and my week long 21st birthday celebration, but none would prove to be as memorable or impactful as the first, the first plane ride and the first unknown city.

My last trip to Vegas was a couple weeks ago. I spent those days reconciling what the city had become to my family and I. Two of my brothers graduated from UNLV. Las Vegas is where they found their voices and figured out what they wanted out of life. Las Vegas is also where they learned to appreciate the ups, and fight through the downs of life. And during that trip, Las Vegas is where I began to open my heart and find the courage to understand what it means to love the way that God loves, and forgive the way that God forgives.

This is what I saw while walking through the familiarity of The Strip.

~AK

CONTACT ME ::: FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER ::: VISIT MY WEBSITE

~AK

Stylist: Marian Ingram | Art Direction: Betty Kim

Visit my WEBSITE ::: Follow me @msAKnowles ::: CONTACT me

Miles and I just came in from a romp in the park. I am sitting here working, studying, watching the snow fall and eating my first PB&J sandwich in the last decade. Wondering, since when did these become so tasty?! Could it be the honey wheat bread and green tea addition?

And look what we found in Marcus Garvey Park, a snowman! What?! How cool are the kids in Harlem USA for this?!

~AK

Visit my WEBSITE ::: Follow me @msAKnowles ::: CONTACT me