Citizen photo of Hudson River plane crash shows Web's reporting power

The astounding photo below, apparently taken from a river ferry by traveler and Twitter user Janis Krums, is one of the earliest photos to emerge of the US Airways crash into the Hudson River in New York City.  Krums apparently snapped the photo with his iPhone and uploaded it to the Twitter photo service Twitpic, which was instantly brought to its knees by exploding online interest in the image. 

This may be among the most striking instances yet of instant citizen reporting, a trend that was visible in the Mumbai terror attacks and has come to use the micro-blogging service Twitter as its main conduit for hyperfast transmission of info-snippets and photographs. In this case, it was possible through the iPhone, an all-in-one communications device that can capture and send images in no time. 

Hat tip Silicon Alley Insider.

-- David Sarno

Photo credit: Janis Krums via Twitpic

Comments

[B N Fait]

Amazing.

[tweetip]

1st Tweets Timeline/Chart ~ USAirways commuter plane crash in Hudson River... http://tweetip.us/lkuiu

[Peter E Raymond]

So what are they going to do with the aircraft now that it is drifting in to NY Harbor? How do they get it out?

[Michelle Cox]

Wow. Amazing picture. I linked to it from my blog.

http://newmomoldmom.wordpress.com/2009/01/15/new-york-city-plane-crash/

[steve]

pilot is former USAF
http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php#/photo.php?id=555793615&pid=1366517&cp=555793615&cps=63d2bd4c13

[NP]

Peter, a friend downtown send pics of the plane tied up alongside the seawall at Battery park City, out of the main channel, which is a good thing as the river is used for commercial traffic. Another friend who was onsite says that the salvage operation comes next. I sail in the Hudson (in warmer weather), the vessels shown in the news footage represent all the normal traffic on any given day, it looks to me like all vessels responded.

[jim]

good work, but don't overhype citizen reporting, for we ain't supermen. we may get these pictures uploaded fast, but they are nothing, just poor substitutes for what people really want - photos/videos of the jet gliding onto the river.

[Ajlouny]

I think that its an amazing photo...imagine what all those people were thinking right before hitting the water.

Did you license the image, because ALL sorts of publications are using it!!!

Congrats on the potential BIG payday for copyright infringement.

[Northern Virginia Photographer]

Proof that digital gadgets have enhanced reporting even when it costs the legit photographer a packet. I'd prefer to have the photo for history and mankind than not at all. I hope Janis registers this image and makes some money.

[mark]

Citizen reporting is fine. I get it totally. But please, PLEASE don't just upload the photos for the world to see for free. Your photos have value. To the news agencies, and to yourself.

I have been in the news and photojournalism business for years, and realize that many of the most incredible news photos happen to be captured by amateurs that were at the right place at the right time. But if it is a good photo, someone, somewhere will PAY you money for it.

Hold out. But act quickly. Or better yet, call up several news agencies, the wire services, magazines, heck even the National Enquirer. Tell them what you have. Someone will want to pay for them.

[Werner]

"most striking instances yet of instant citizen reporting?"

theres tones of material of instant reporting of wars - right now for example about the war in Gaza - tons of pictures tons of material - its just that very few people or media outlets show it - sure theres pictures and clips - but what REALLY is happening on the ground - no we dont see - so this instant citizen reporting is really totally beside the point the point - the question is if its going to be picked up by major newsoutlets -theres tons of up to the minute material out there and its been happening since years and years

[Anon]

Peter Raymond: They should ask the people who made Star Trek V; you know, the guys who outfitted the special 747 that flew the whales from the aquarium out to the open sea, to meet their doom; then Captain Kirk beamed them up. Those guys can get the plane out of the Hudson.

[Anonymous]

You guys would put a price on the air we breathe, if you could. Thanks for posting your photo---God bless amateurs. The rest of you can't be in the right place at the right time all the time.

I am truely happy that no one was hurt. I don't think the City of New York would of been able to take another tragedy. The pilot in my opinion is a Hero. He thought quickly and opted to head towards the river to avoid a greater loss of life. He deserves a medal of some type!

[Anonymous]

This is truely a fantastic story but reading though the entire post there's always some "a" hole putting a dollar value on what could have been absolute tragedy.

I wonder what the responce would have been if that person was standing on the wings?

It's people like you that would stand around hospital corridors asking the survivors how they "felt" and did nothing but fuel the "frenzy" and take photos for "show and tell"

"You're" what's wrong with the US and glad that once again, there's proof!

[a republican]

Thank God that President Bush is still president and still keping Americans safe from and tradegy

[Lea]

I am stupefied that all some twits can think of in the capturing of a moment of a true miracle, is money!

And, yes; the pilot is a true hero.

The rest of you guys go back to your Neverlands.

[Ross McCulloch]

Great article, I'm going to be interviewing Janis Krums (@jkrums) on my blog this week - www.thirdsectorlab.co.uk

All the questions have come for folks out there in the twitterverse, there's even one from a certain LA Times journalist ;0)

[YouCanRock]

What a great pic. The event has already inspired a flash game. Now you can land the plane yourself.

http://www.addictinggames.com/heroonthehudson.html