”When you’ve been to hell and back–tasted the grit. inhaled smoke and dust and felt the horrific vibrations, a new perspective on life is revealed,” Todd Maisel.

Todd Maisel, a staff photographer at  the   New York Daily News and Vice President of the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA),

visited CUNY York College the week before spring vacation, and he gave some advice and tips for York College journalism students.

The veteran photojournalist –who prefers taking  pictures  from the roof or edge of buildings–shared a compilation of his best news photos, including 9/11-an incident that changed his life.

 ”As a journalist and photographer, it dawned on me after the September 11th,” said Maisel. “I was on 125th when I heard the police radio call reporting the first plane hitting the World Trade Center.” 

 Maisel recounted his experience when shooting on 9/11, –an episode that caused him “a type of anxiety disorder” known as a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).    

 ”The loss of so many great people [on September 11th] has left us with a huge responsibility to tell their story and preserve their history,” said Maisel while answering questions about his controversial pictures and the thin line between an ethical and an unscrupulous image.    

 Finally, he talked about his expertise shooting pictures of natural disasters, fires, and crimes scenes such as the massive super storm Sandy and the 2010  Haiti earthquake.

Photo Credit Yaisy Mendoza               Todd Maisel

Photo Credit: Yaisy Mendoza        Maisel giving some tips for journalism students at York

Photo Credit: Yaisy Mendoza