Queens Photographer's 'Towers of Light' Image Immortalized In Manhattan and Staten Island Verizon SuperPages
Full Transparency
Our editorial transparency tool uses blockchain technology to permanently log all changes made to official releases after publication.
More of our content is being permanently logged via blockchain technology starting [10.23.2020].
NEW YORK -- A photograph of the World Trade Center "Towers of Light" tribute taken by New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Bridges employee Peter Basich will appear on the cover of the SuperPages Community Magazine inserted in Verizon's 2002 - 2003 SuperPages directories for Manhattan. The 32-day-long "Towers of Light" tribute was installed last March.
Verizon Information Services, publisher of SuperPages, selected the Queens resident's photograph of the laser-light display offset by an illuminated Brooklyn Bridge to recognize both the loss New York experienced September 11 and the resiliency the city has shown since. Another image that Basich took of the Brooklyn Bridge, shot in full daylight and with the twin towers in the background, was published in Verizon's 2001 Community Magazine less than a month before the towers were destroyed.
Currently 1.5 million copies of the SuperPages yellow pages featuring the Community Magazine and 1.5 million of the white pages are being delivered to Manhattan residents and businesses. The photo also will appear in the Verizon's Staten Island SuperPages that will be distributed in October.
"I knew a photograph from the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge would provide a dramatic image of the heavenly arching beams of the temporary memorial and of the evening skyline of Lower Manhattan," said Basich, DOT office manager.
"When Verizon started looking for images to symbolize our 'Still Going Strong' theme, we turned to Peter," said Fred Bonaccorso, regional vice president of sales -- New York, Verizon Information Services. "His photo of the Brooklyn Bridge and the laser tribute dramatically capture the spirit and strength of the City."
Basich says he is "very proud" to have his picture chosen for publication. "The opportunity to take this picture became an extension of what we all experienced on September 11."
Basich studied photography and worked for various Manhattan studios before he joined DOT 12 years ago. When he started with the agency, which is responsible for maintenance of more than 700 bridges in New York City's five boroughs, DOT asked him to photograph bridges to undergo repair. "I was delighted to use my experience in photographing the great bridges of New York City," said Basich.
Basich said he took only a couple of rolls of film of the "Towers of Light" because of the evening's weather conditions. "It was cold, windy and dark. I was using a Nikon 35-mm camera mounted on a tripod and shooting Kodak Gold 400 film. I bracketed all of the time exposures and although few of them came out to my satisfaction, people in DOT kept requesting copies," said Basich. "Now it is overwhelming to know the photo will be seen millions of times in the Verizon SuperPages."
About Verizon Information Services and SuperPages.com
Verizon Information Services is the world's leading print and online directory publisher, a content provider for communications products and services, and the largest publisher of Hispanic directories in the U.S. With operations in 16 countries and annual revenues of more than $4.3 billion, Verizon Information Services publishes nearly 1,200 U.S. Verizon SuperPages directories and 400 international directories with a total circulation of approximately 150 million copies worldwide.
Based in the Dallas area, Verizon Information Services produces and markets SuperPages.com, the Internet's #1 online directory and shopping resource. SuperPages.com receives as many as 13 million visits and 9 million unique visitors a month and powers directory services on MSN, InfoSpace, AltaVista, Excite, Lycos, Ask Jeeves, HotBot, BigFoot, Tripod and Angelfire as well as more than 2,500 affiliate Web sites.
The company supports computer literacy with philanthropic programs and through the Enlighten Me and Internet Learning Tutor sites on SuperPages.com. Enlighten Me is a fun site where children and their caregivers go to read, learn and explore. The Internet Learning Tutoris specifically designed for adults who are just learning their way around the Internet.
Verizon Information Services is a unit of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), one of the world's leading providers of communications services. Through its signature Verizon Reads program and the Verizon Literacy Network, Verizon is leading the fight to increase U.S. literacy levels by creating community and corporate awareness, raising funds, encouraging collaboration among literacy providers and engaging employees in supporting literacy programs.
# # #