http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com Purveyor of Fine Media Fri, 02 Jul 2010 17:55:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://visualsociety.com/?v=3.3.1 http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/06/30/katia-cadet-sings-the-star-spangled-banner-for-haiti/#comment-41 Katia Cadet’s Plea to America: Let’s Act the Part of the Home of the Brave and Help Haiti Rebuild | Benjamin Chertoff Images Fri, 02 Jul 2010 17:55:27 +0000 http://benjaminchertoff.com/?p=554#comment-41 [...] Katia’s full performance of the Star-Spangled Banner. Share and [...] [...] Katia’s full performance of the Star-Spangled Banner. Share and [...]

]]> http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2009/02/12/base-tenders-teaser/#comment-34 Brad Shaw Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:29:59 +0000 http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2009/02/12/base-tenders-teaser/#comment-34 Hi Ben, I remember doing this, but never saw the finished product. Great stuff! Really shows the joy of Vintage Base Ball. Too bad it never went any further. Let me know if you ever want to pick it up again. Brad "Brooklyn" Shaw Flemington Neshanock Hi Ben,
I remember doing this, but never saw the finished product. Great stuff! Really shows the joy of Vintage Base Ball. Too bad it never went any further. Let me know if you ever want to pick it up again.
Brad “Brooklyn” Shaw
Flemington Neshanock

]]> http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/03/05/why-sean-penn-doesnt-care-about-critics-video-and-slideshow/#comment-33 been there & back Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:04:51 +0000 http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/03/05/why-sean-penn-doesnt-care-about-critics-video-and-slideshow/#comment-33 Joe. when are you going down? When are you helping at your local homeless shelter? What are you doing to help your local school with their over crowded classrooms? Joe, Grow up. If Sean can needs to raise money to go back down and bring some more water kits, tarps, food, then his celebrity is what he has to trade on as his profession. Joe what are you doing? Making snide witless comments? I'm sure that is going to be of big help to everyone. Joe. when are you going down? When are you helping at your local homeless shelter? What are you doing to help your local school with their over crowded classrooms? Joe, Grow up. If Sean can needs to raise money to go back down and bring some more water kits, tarps, food, then his celebrity is what he has to trade on as his profession. Joe what are you doing? Making snide witless comments? I’m sure that is going to be of big help to everyone.

]]> http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/03/05/why-sean-penn-doesnt-care-about-critics-video-and-slideshow/#comment-32 Benjamin Chertoff Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:28:15 +0000 http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/03/05/why-sean-penn-doesnt-care-about-critics-video-and-slideshow/#comment-32 Fed up: First, since I assume you are a member of one of either a DMAT team or a Soldier, I very much commend your work. The life-saving work performed on the top of that hill is tremendous, and you guys are tasked with what is likely the hardest part of Operation Joint Response. The dedication, tireless work and commitment I witnessed at Petion-Ville made me very proud to be an American. In reference to your complaints, I'd like to make it very clear that the scope and purpose of my story is by no means to survey the nature of Sean Penn's individual and personal behavior. The story I found in Haiti, perhaps the biggest story in Haiti, lacked complete coverage; the truly unified force the US brought to bear in Haite, That was the real story I wanted to tell; the story I went to Haiti to shoot. It is impossible for one man to cover such a large story photographically in one frame. So I shot thousands, picking stories as I went along. So I chose metaphors, each photo telling the bigger story of the other FOBS, the other camps the other ships and the other heros. The US Military was by no doubt the backbone of operation Unified Relief.I had the honor to publish the my photo essay in Popular Mechanics, along with several other text reports I chased down; I documented everything I saw, heard, read. I <a href="http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military_law/4346988.html" rel="nofollow">urge you to read it;</a perhaps it will serve to assuage the the fed up feeling you now express. Thank you for saving Haiti. A.) You are absolutely correct on that one. I should have written FEMA-Legacy-DMAT teams. It's am alphabet soup when you pick apart who is in direct control, especially since they still partner with FEMA. The general public, in my opinion, would not recognize DMAT or have any idea what that refers to. I used FEMA DMAT teams as an informal shorthand so that people would get the disaster response angle, and they are FEMA trained. However, I think you're right: I'll come up with a distinction that everyone can figure out. As for the rest, that does not change the very basic fact that that Penn brought in a whole bunch of stuff. I have the photos. And the 82nd from FOB grey (the country club) worked with Penn to get his stuff up the hill. I was not, and am not making any sort of comment about Penn's individual, personal behavior in Haiti. And I was a SOCOM-cleared, embedded photojournalist. I was physically kept out of the TOC by a big soldier with scary guns. Despite my numerous requests to observe the meetings, I was declined access. Penn may have pushed his way in, but there was a menagerie of aid groups coming in and out of FOB Grey. The 82nd was the best place to be to get stuff out, so it would make sense he'd be there. And someone cleared him for access. I was not invited into the meetings. He was. I only saw Penn at his own camp with the pistol -- front pocked, jean shorts. I never saw him carry a weapon into the 82nd's FOB. D) Sean Penn? I dunno; who am I to judge his personal behavior? The point of this story is that he was non there as a press stunt. Even if it awas a press stunt, he brought more stuff in than many NGOs. 4000 water filtration systems? I have trouble, beased on his reluctance to talkdown there and his reluctance to talk on CBS (his comment about the critics was a joke; directly afterward he expressed an "I don't care" attitude." Thank you for your comments. BC Fed up:
First, since I assume you are a member of one of either a DMAT team or a Soldier, I very much commend your work. The life-saving work performed on the top of that hill is tremendous, and you guys are tasked with what is likely the hardest part of Operation Joint Response. The dedication, tireless work and commitment I witnessed at Petion-Ville made me very proud to be an American.
In reference to your complaints, I’d like to make it very clear that the scope and purpose of my story is by no means to survey the nature of Sean Penn’s individual and personal behavior. The story I found in Haiti, perhaps the biggest story in Haiti, lacked complete coverage; the truly unified force the US brought to bear in Haite, That was the real story I wanted to tell; the story I went to Haiti to shoot. It is impossible for one man to cover such a large story photographically in one frame. So I shot thousands, picking stories as I went along. So I chose metaphors, each photo telling the bigger story of the other FOBS, the other camps the other ships and the other heros. The US Military was by no doubt the backbone of operation Unified Relief.I had the honor to publish the my photo essay in Popular Mechanics, along with several other text reports I chased down; I documented everything I saw, heard, read. I urge you to read it;</a perhaps it will serve to assuage the the fed up feeling you now express. Thank you for saving Haiti.
A.) You are absolutely correct on that one. I should have written FEMA-Legacy-DMAT teams. It's am alphabet soup when you pick apart who is in direct control, especially since they still partner with FEMA. The general public, in my opinion, would not recognize DMAT or have any idea what that refers to. I used FEMA DMAT teams as an informal shorthand so that people would get the disaster response angle, and they are FEMA trained. However, I think you're right: I'll come up with a distinction that everyone can figure out.
As for the rest, that does not change the very basic fact that that Penn brought in a whole bunch of stuff. I have the photos. And the 82nd from FOB grey (the country club) worked with Penn to get his stuff up the hill. I was not, and am not making any sort of comment about Penn's individual, personal behavior in Haiti. And I was a SOCOM-cleared, embedded photojournalist. I was physically kept out of the TOC by a big soldier with scary guns. Despite my numerous requests to observe the meetings, I was declined access. Penn may have pushed his way in, but there was a menagerie of aid groups coming in and out of FOB Grey. The 82nd was the best place to be to get stuff out, so it would make sense he'd be there. And someone cleared him for access. I was not invited into the meetings. He was.
I only saw Penn at his own camp with the pistol — front pocked, jean shorts. I never saw him carry a weapon into the 82nd's FOB.
D) Sean Penn? I dunno; who am I to judge his personal behavior? The point of this story is that he was non there as a press stunt. Even if it awas a press stunt, he brought more stuff in than many NGOs. 4000 water filtration systems? I have trouble, beased on his reluctance to talkdown there and his reluctance to talk on CBS (his comment about the critics was a joke; directly afterward he expressed an "I don't care" attitude."
Thank you for your comments.
BC

]]> http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/03/05/why-sean-penn-doesnt-care-about-critics-video-and-slideshow/#comment-31 Fed Up Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:18:40 +0000 http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/03/05/why-sean-penn-doesnt-care-about-critics-video-and-slideshow/#comment-31 I was at the Petion-Ville Country Club when Sean Penn was there. A) The disaster workers at the Country Club were NOT FEMA. FEMA wasn't there. Check your facts, sir. B) Sean Penn attended those meetings because HE wanted to; he was never invited to participate. This was a military mission and he injected himself into it. By the end of the day he was so incoherant no one could understand him, anyway. Must have been really tired. C) Ask Mr. Penn how appropriate it was for him to hold open barbeques (with food fragrances floating off the mountain top to the surrounding area) while hundreds of soldiers and disaster workers lived on MRE's. Not to mention the starving Haitians around us. D) What asshole walks around with a pistol sticking out of his pants when he's surrounded by the word's finest fighting force? I was at the Petion-Ville Country Club when Sean Penn was there.
A) The disaster workers at the Country Club were NOT FEMA. FEMA wasn’t there. Check your facts, sir.
B) Sean Penn attended those meetings because HE wanted to; he was never invited to participate. This was a military mission and he injected himself into it. By the end of the day he was so incoherant no one could understand him, anyway. Must have been really tired.
C) Ask Mr. Penn how appropriate it was for him to hold open barbeques (with food fragrances floating off the mountain top to the surrounding area) while hundreds of soldiers and disaster workers lived on MRE’s. Not to mention the starving Haitians around us.
D) What asshole walks around with a pistol sticking out of his pants when he’s surrounded by the word’s finest fighting force?

]]> http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/03/05/why-sean-penn-doesnt-care-about-critics-video-and-slideshow/#comment-30 Benjamin Chertoff Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:15:57 +0000 http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/03/05/why-sean-penn-doesnt-care-about-critics-video-and-slideshow/#comment-30 Was able to forget to include the link.. Camp photos on their way... Was able to forget to include the link.. Camp photos on their way…

]]> http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/03/05/why-sean-penn-doesnt-care-about-critics-video-and-slideshow/#comment-29 Benjamin Chertoff Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:15:00 +0000 http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/03/05/why-sean-penn-doesnt-care-about-critics-video-and-slideshow/#comment-29 <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/widenerlaw/4332654847/" rel="nofollow">http://www.flickr.com/photos/widenerlaw/4332654847/</a> http://www.flickr.com/photos/widenerlaw/4332654847/

]]> http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/03/05/why-sean-penn-doesnt-care-about-critics-video-and-slideshow/#comment-28 Benjamin Chertoff Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:14:21 +0000 http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/03/05/why-sean-penn-doesnt-care-about-critics-video-and-slideshow/#comment-28 Well, as I said, he didn't want to be photographed -- I'm an editorial photographer, not papparazi, and I olidged to honor his request. However, I have plenty of photos of his pills of foot filling a tennis court, and you can see the tent farm in the background. AND, there are other shots of Penn working, for example, here, at his camp. The off-white, light-yellow tent is Penn's bedroom. Well, as I said, he didn’t want to be photographed — I’m an editorial photographer, not papparazi, and I olidged to honor his request. However, I have plenty of photos of his pills of foot filling a tennis court, and you can see the tent farm in the background. AND, there are other shots of Penn working, for example, here, at his camp. The off-white, light-yellow tent is Penn’s bedroom.

]]> http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/03/05/why-sean-penn-doesnt-care-about-critics-video-and-slideshow/#comment-27 JamesHo Mon, 08 Mar 2010 04:52:15 +0000 http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/03/05/why-sean-penn-doesnt-care-about-critics-video-and-slideshow/#comment-27 Do you have any pictures of Sean or his entourage where they are actually dirty or sweaty? If yes, thenm I'll believe it. Do you have any pictures of Sean or his entourage where they are actually dirty or sweaty? If yes, thenm I’ll believe it.

]]> http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/03/05/why-sean-penn-doesnt-care-about-critics-video-and-slideshow/#comment-26 Benjamin Chertoff Sun, 07 Mar 2010 14:56:59 +0000 http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/03/05/why-sean-penn-doesnt-care-about-critics-video-and-slideshow/#comment-26 Everything he's said so far is exactly correct so far -- the camp is the worse. Much more in my story about that... Also, my facts are CHECKED and correct! Everything he’s said so far is exactly correct so far — the camp is the worse. Much more in my story about that…
Also, my facts are CHECKED and correct!

]]> http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/03/05/why-sean-penn-doesnt-care-about-critics-video-and-slideshow/#comment-25 John Davies Sun, 07 Mar 2010 04:21:45 +0000 http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/03/05/why-sean-penn-doesnt-care-about-critics-video-and-slideshow/#comment-25 You have me liking Sean Penn tonight. Well, liking him a little. Still, an hour ago I would have bet that nothing would make me like him even that much. Thanks for keeping my mind flexible. You have me liking Sean Penn tonight. Well, liking him a little.
Still, an hour ago I would have bet that nothing would make me like him even that much.
Thanks for keeping my mind flexible.

]]> http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/03/05/why-sean-penn-doesnt-care-about-critics-video-and-slideshow/#comment-24 Jonathan Sun, 07 Mar 2010 01:35:20 +0000 http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/03/05/why-sean-penn-doesnt-care-about-critics-video-and-slideshow/#comment-24 Thanks for relaying the information. Every little part of the truth contributes to the whole. I'm not a fan of Sean Penn as a person, but it sounds as though he's doing good work there so more power to him. Thanks for relaying the information. Every little part of the truth contributes to the whole. I’m not a fan of Sean Penn as a person, but it sounds as though he’s doing good work there so more power to him.

]]> http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/03/05/why-sean-penn-doesnt-care-about-critics-video-and-slideshow/#comment-23 Benjamin Chertoff Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:40:23 +0000 http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/03/05/why-sean-penn-doesnt-care-about-critics-video-and-slideshow/#comment-23 Ummm... I don't believe I'm qualified to answer your questions without having done any research, reporting; 78% of the Jewish population in america -- phew! That's a lot of people from whom I can get quotes on the record. As to why I said I was a Jew, I was simply making the point that I was not, in any way, advocating sainthood, nor qualified to advocate sainthood for Sean Penn. I believe that falls under the responsibility of the Vatican, and I also think cannonization requires a documented miracle. None of the relief efforts in Haiti was a miracle. It was a lot of very hard work done by many tens of thousands of American servicemen and women, and tireless work by NGOs and FEMA teams and even NGOs run by Sean Penn. Thank you for your compliment, but I can't take credit. I simply observed and recorded. The real heros are in the story. <a href="http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military_law/4346988.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military_law/4346988.html</a> Ummm… I don’t believe I’m qualified to answer your questions without having done any research, reporting; 78% of the Jewish population in america — phew! That’s a lot of people from whom I can get quotes on the record. As to why I said I was a Jew, I was simply making the point that I was not, in any way, advocating sainthood, nor qualified to advocate sainthood for Sean Penn. I believe that falls under the responsibility of the Vatican, and I also think cannonization requires a documented miracle. None of the relief efforts in Haiti was a miracle. It was a lot of very hard work done by many tens of thousands of American servicemen and women, and tireless work by NGOs and FEMA teams and even NGOs run by Sean Penn. Thank you for your compliment, but I can’t take credit. I simply observed and recorded. The real heros are in the story. http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military_law/4346988.html

]]> http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/03/05/why-sean-penn-doesnt-care-about-critics-video-and-slideshow/#comment-22 Bogdan from Australia Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:16:16 +0000 http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/03/05/why-sean-penn-doesnt-care-about-critics-video-and-slideshow/#comment-22 Hi Ben! You are a Jew? I'm a greatest friend of Jews. So what? If you are a Jew, tell us why 78% of the Yankee Jews (including those cretins Dershovitz and Koch) voted for that traitor Obama, knowing very well that he is a sworn enemy of the state of Israel. Have you been one of those 78% who voted for that PARASITE? Appart from that, the tragedy of Haiti is a result as much of an earthquake as of the socio-political construction that is called SOCIALISM and is so viciously supported by the likes of Sean Penn and other Sovietwoodian cretins. I have the best part of my life wasted while living under the boot and whip of a SOCIALISM, so I shall NEVER believe in any "good intentions" of SOCIALISTS. And as for Sean Penn, he is only mending a tini fracture of damage that him and others like him have done to humanity and that means 150 million deaths, billions of enslaved people's lives destroyed and hundreds of TRYLLIONS of dollars of human work and resources stolen and wasted. Still KUDOS for the GREAT JOB you and you pals are doing in Haiti!!! Hi Ben! You are a Jew? I’m a greatest friend of Jews. So what? If you are a Jew, tell us why 78% of the Yankee Jews (including those cretins Dershovitz and Koch) voted for that traitor Obama, knowing very well that he is a sworn enemy of the state of Israel. Have you been one of those 78% who voted for that PARASITE?
Appart from that, the tragedy of Haiti is a result as much of an earthquake as of the socio-political construction that is called SOCIALISM and is so viciously supported by the likes of Sean Penn and other Sovietwoodian cretins.
I have the best part of my life wasted while living under the boot and whip of a SOCIALISM, so I shall NEVER believe in any “good intentions” of SOCIALISTS.
And as for Sean Penn, he is only mending a tini fracture of damage that him and others like him have done to humanity and that means 150 million deaths, billions of enslaved people’s lives destroyed and hundreds of TRYLLIONS of dollars of human work and resources stolen and wasted.
Still KUDOS for the GREAT JOB you and you pals are doing in Haiti!!!

]]> http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/03/05/why-sean-penn-doesnt-care-about-critics-video-and-slideshow/#comment-21 Benjamin Chertoff Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:50:42 +0000 http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/03/05/why-sean-penn-doesnt-care-about-critics-video-and-slideshow/#comment-21 I'm a Jew. I think Sainthood is out of my control. I’m a Jew. I think Sainthood is out of my control.

]]> http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/03/05/why-sean-penn-doesnt-care-about-critics-video-and-slideshow/#comment-20 Paul A'Barge Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:07:15 +0000 http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/03/05/why-sean-penn-doesnt-care-about-critics-video-and-slideshow/#comment-20 I'm sorry pal, but hoping that others die of cancer pretty much nullifies any sainthood accolades you can ladle out for the guy. Mussolini made the trains run on time. Tell that to the families of the people he executed. Is Penn executing people? Nope. But my guess is it's because he doesn't have either the power or the balls to execute people (the people of his choice). Next Penn movie coming out I'll be boycotting it. Without a shred of remorse or hesitation. And now that goes for anything else you write in the future. How are the cappuccinos in Moral Equivalence City? I’m sorry pal, but hoping that others die of cancer pretty much nullifies any sainthood accolades you can ladle out for the guy.
Mussolini made the trains run on time. Tell that to the families of the people he executed.
Is Penn executing people? Nope. But my guess is it’s because he doesn’t have either the power or the balls to execute people (the people of his choice).
Next Penn movie coming out I’ll be boycotting it. Without a shred of remorse or hesitation. And now that goes for anything else you write in the future.
How are the cappuccinos in Moral Equivalence City?

]]> http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/03/05/why-sean-penn-doesnt-care-about-critics-video-and-slideshow/#comment-19 DavidN Sat, 06 Mar 2010 19:48:56 +0000 http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/03/05/why-sean-penn-doesnt-care-about-critics-video-and-slideshow/#comment-19 I can just see the scene, as those who are Penn's critics imagine it: a man is dragged from the rubble, the reporter rushes up and sticks a mike in his face, and yells "You were just saved by a Hollywood actor, what's your reaction?" and the guy responds "Put me back in the hole, I don't like Sean Penn!". Point is, regardless of his political stances (which are usually idiotic) if the guy is there, walking the walk and talking the talk, we should leave him alone to do his thing. It's stupid to criticize him; we want to encourage people to be charitable, regardless of who they are. I can just see the scene, as those who are Penn’s critics imagine it: a man is dragged from the rubble, the reporter rushes up and sticks a mike in his face, and yells “You were just saved by a Hollywood actor, what’s your reaction?” and the guy responds “Put me back in the hole, I don’t like Sean Penn!”.
Point is, regardless of his political stances (which are usually idiotic) if the guy is there, walking the walk and talking the talk, we should leave him alone to do his thing. It’s stupid to criticize him; we want to encourage people to be charitable, regardless of who they are.

]]> http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/03/05/why-sean-penn-doesnt-care-about-critics-video-and-slideshow/#comment-18 Benjamin Chertoff Sat, 06 Mar 2010 19:38:39 +0000 http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/03/05/why-sean-penn-doesnt-care-about-critics-video-and-slideshow/#comment-18 <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/benjaminchertoff/4410982723/" title="Flat Rate Transfer by Benjamin Chertoff, on Flickr" rel="nofollow"></a> One of the many Western Unions. This branch is probably closed for business.
One of the many Western Unions. This branch is probably closed for business.

]]> http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/03/05/why-sean-penn-doesnt-care-about-critics-video-and-slideshow/#comment-17 Jeff Shutlz Sat, 06 Mar 2010 19:12:12 +0000 http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/03/05/why-sean-penn-doesnt-care-about-critics-video-and-slideshow/#comment-17 Sounds like he learned from his idiotic experience with Katrina. Maybe that means he can learn. If so - good for him. If he wants to go off and do good stuff for people in the world without needing front page coverage of it, more power to him. Sounds like he learned from his idiotic experience with Katrina.
Maybe that means he can learn. If so – good for him. If he wants to go off and do good stuff for people in the world without needing front page coverage of it, more power to him.

]]> http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/03/05/why-sean-penn-doesnt-care-about-critics-video-and-slideshow/#comment-16 Benjamin Chertoff Sat, 06 Mar 2010 18:24:07 +0000 http://bchertoff.visualsociety.com/2010/03/05/why-sean-penn-doesnt-care-about-critics-video-and-slideshow/#comment-16 Don, good point. I'm outta this discussion. Fanning flames, fanning flames... Rectal Cancer... Katrina... Anderson Cooper... (is it working?) Don, good point. I’m outta this discussion. Fanning flames, fanning flames… Rectal Cancer… Katrina… Anderson Cooper… (is it working?)

]]>