Nostalgia Photography By Detroit and New York-based Joe Polimeni

A look back at my 20 year career as staff photojournalist for United Press International

traveling the world covering major global stories.

My boss said on my first day, “you’re here because you can make pictures.

That’s a drop in the bucket for this job.”

After a week, I knew what he meant. It made me the photographer I am today.

—–

NYPD undercover police detective funeral. — NYPD undercover police detective funeral.
1969: One of my closest friends and mentors growing up was a New York City Police Captain. A photography enthusiast himself, he had a darkroom in his basement and it was first experience I had developing film and making prints. One day, like cleaning windshield, he taught me how to look at things differently. We were on our way to a cabin his family was building in a rented van when we got a flat. We had the spare, but no jack. He searched through the woods and placed a couple logs under the vehicle. Like a see saw I sat on one side and raised the van enough to fix it. I never looked at things the same way again. An undercover narcotics detective was killed in the line of duty. He was going as part of the honor detail and gave me the information of the whereabouts. I got there early and looked around. I never saw so many policemen in one place. I was in a sea of dark blue. I was trying to tell the story but it wasn’t making sense. I remember pausing and saying what would Mr. G. do? I saw a great position on top of a building where the funeral procession would be passing. I never saw anything so dark, so tragic, yet so respectful. I didn’t have a press pass, no credential whatsoever. I was a kid with a camera and talked my way onto of the roof of a building. It was one of the first pictures that I made to run internationally.© Joe Polimeni Photography

NYPD undercover police detective funeral.

Cranbrook students stranded in snow storm return home — Cranbrook students stranded in snow storm return home
March 15, 1993: Twenty-one students and three faculty members from the Cranbrook Kingswood high school in Bloomfield Hills, MI were missing while on a wilderness trip, during Spring break, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee. Military helicopters had made more than 120 trips in the rescue effort before having to stop because they couldn't land in the mountains in the dark, a spokesman said at Air National Guard base in Knoxville. Park Rangers found 93 blindsided by the biggest storm of the century. The missing hikers faced a fourth night in snow that in some places drifted as high as 5 feet with temperatures expected to dip to 20 or lower overnight, a serious threat to anyone caught outside for an extended time without shelter, the National Weather Service said. The trip was an annual Outward Bound-style outing. Prior, they trained after school for two months, running for endurance, learning about survival and self-reliance in the wilderness. Experts said no amount of training could have prepared them for the storm that blasted the East Coast that weekend, spawning deadly tornadoes in Florida and a blinding blizzard that stretched from Alabama to Canada. The Cranbrook hikers arrived by bus March 6 and divided into groups setting off for a week and a half of hiking and survival training. The first few days went as expected, the hiking was difficult, but that was offset by great weather. They gossiped about school and talked about how they would kill for a cheeseburger and pizza. They awoke Saturday in snow almost three feet deep. After a harrowing four days in the snowy mountains and freezing temperatures, last 24 were rescued by helicopter. One student and a teacher were seriously injured during the trip suffering frostbite and were hospitalized, others had exposure-related ailments.Parents and faculty jammed the entrance to Cranbrook Kingswood School, waving balloons and welcome home signs, as buses arrived. The teenagers, looking tired and a bit embarrassed by the attention, were embraced by mothers and fathers who had spent days worrying and waiting. After the long trip home, holding her belongings, this young girl and mother unite.© Joe Polimeni Photography

Cranbrook students stranded in snow storm return home

Pope John Paul II visit to New York — Pope John Paul II visit to New York
October 1979: Pope John Paul II after arriving in New York. He conducted mass later that evening at Yankee Stadium.© Joe Polimeni Photography

Pope John Paul II visit to New York

President George Bush campaigns by train — President George Bush campaigns by train
September 26, 1992:President Bush rode a Harry Truman style campaign train from Ohio to Michigan using each stop to "blow the whistle" on Democrat Bill Clinton as he began his two-day, 235-mile 'Spirit of America' journey. As flags waved, President Bush told the crowd, "He has a lousy record in Arkansas and we don't need that for the United States of America." Bush thundered to crowds gathered at railroad crossings, train stations and trackside fields. With his wife, Barbara, at his side, the president spoke from the platform of a train car bedecked in red, white and blue as Truman did 44 years ago. Bush went on the attack in a pair of states where polls favor Clinton by wide margins, a reflection of nationwide surveys. Bill Clinton won the election.© Joe Polimeni Photography

President George Bush campaigns by train

Statue of Liberty taken over by Puerto Rican Nationalists — Statue of Liberty taken over by Puerto Rican Nationalists
It was a summer of little sleep; the Summer of ’77 in New York City and was like no other in my youth or thereafter. It was the summer of the Son of Sam, the .44-caliber serial killer. A summer when a blackout plunged the city into darkness and looting, a heat wave lasting eight days, temperatures exceeding 100 degrees. The summer that ended with Yankees superstar, Reggie Jackson, dubbed "Mr. October," for his heroics, winning the World Series and brought the city back to life. In between, the Statue of Liberty was taken over by an unarmed group of Puerto Rican nationalists who ousted hundreds of tourists from Liberty Island and affixed the flag of Puerto Rico to the statue’s forehead demanding release of political prisoners. © Joe Polimeni Photography

Statue of Liberty taken over by Puerto Rican Nationalists

Iwo Jima Memorial Washington Fireworks 1989 — Iwo Jima Memorial Washington Fireworks 1989
Of the many pictures I've made throughout the world, this is one of my favorites. Made during the night before the George Bush 41 inauguration.© Joe Polimeni Photography

Iwo Jima Memorial Washington Fireworks 1989

World Series Blowing Tarp Rain Out — World Series Blowing Tarp Rain Out
Thursday: October 9, 1976: World Series rain out. Blowing Tarp © Joe Polimeni Photography

World Series Blowing Tarp Rain Out

Arnold Palmer wins US Senior Open — Arnold Palmer wins US Senior Open
August 1981: What a player, what a person, what a privilege. Golf legend Arnold Palmer, wins the 2nd annual U.S. Senior Open in an 18-hole playoff. Who wasn’t enamored with Arnold Palmer? I grew up reading about and watching him. I had no interest in golf mind you; my interests were in his flying accomplishments. Palmer was also an accomplished pilot, setting a 1976 speed record by flying around the world in just 58 hours. © Joe Polimeni Photography

Arnold Palmer wins US Senior Open

Son of Sam arrested — Son of Sam arrested
The summer of ’77 in New York City was surreal, one might have thought of it as apocalyptic. Heat waves with temperatures over 100 degrees, a massive blackout, more than 1,000 building fires, riots, looting and it was the summer of the “Son of Sam.” David Berkowitz, also known as the Son of Sam and the .44 Caliber Killer, stalked young, brown-haired women, murdering six victims and wounded seven others. As the toll mounted, Berkowitz eluded a massive police manhunt while leaving letters mocking the police and promised further crimes. Highly publicized, he terrorized New York achieving worldwide notoriety. Berkowitz was indicted for eight shooting incidents, confessing to all of them, and claimed to have been obeying the orders of a demon, manifested in the form of a dog, "Harvey," that belonged to his neighbor, "Sam." Despite his explanation, Berkowitz was found mentally competent and is in state prison for murder. Some of the shootings were in neighborhoods I was familiar in Brooklyn and had relationships with many of the police, including a Captain. I followed the case and when he was arrested I was given a heads up. August 11, 1977: A smiling David Berkowitz, 24, is taken from a police car into a police station for booking.© Joe Polimeni Photography

Son of Sam arrested

Soviet General Secretary Mikhail S. Gorbachev and his wife Riasa — Soviet General Secretary Mikhail S. Gorbachev and his wife Riasa
December 6, 1988: Soviet General Secretary Mikhail S. Gorbachev and his wife Riasa arrive at JFK in New York, close to a year after his first visit to the United States. Americans were swept up in “Gorbymania.” The Soviet leader and his wife charmed the American public praising the United States and calling for closer relations between the Soviet Union and America.© Joe Polimeni Photography

Soviet General Secretary Mikhail S. Gorbachev and his wife Riasa

Soviet General Secretary Mikhail S. Gorbachev vists United States. — Soviet General Secretary Mikhail S. Gorbachev vists United States.
December 6, 1988: Soviet General Secretary Mikhail S. Gorbachev passes an American Flag as he arrives at JFK in New York, close to a year after his first visit to the United States. Americans were swept up in “Gorbymania.” The Soviet leader and his wife charmed the American public praising the United States and calling for closer relations between the Soviet Union and America.© Joe Polimeni Photography

Soviet General Secretary Mikhail S. Gorbachev vists United States.

Barbara Bush as her husband VP George accepted the nomination — Barbara Bush as her husband VP George accepted the nomination
Barbara Bush, wife of then Vice President George Bush was going to accept the nomination of their party and follow Reagan as President. As VP Bush accepted the nomination Mrs. Bush waved a small American flag. © Joe Polimeni Photography

Barbara Bush as her husband VP George accepted the nomination

Desmond Howard Heisman Pose Tearsheet — Desmond Howard Heisman Pose Tearsheet
It was the final game of the 1991 University of Michigan season playing legendary rival Ohio State at home; too long ago to remember if the game had significance. Then it decided the Rose Bowl match up, when the Rose Bowl game consisted of the winner of the Big-10 and the PAC-10 conference. Oh yes, when there were 10.University of Michigan receiver Desmond Howard was touted for weeks before the end of the season to win the Heisman Trophy, unusual in those days. Although unrecorded, there was rumor he made a Heisman pose during practice. It was to a point, it could work against him.I never counted the steps, like most bowl shaped football stadiums, Michigan Stadium, AKA, the Big House, an old facility with no elevators, you walked from the street level to the field. No worries for a physically fit 37-year-old photographer, right? Days before the game, a disk in my lower back herniated and brought pain I never experienced. I set up my stringers (freelancers) to shoot the game without me. Game day I decide to go, would only work the darkroom, edit and put out the product. Yes, in the days of darkrooms.My back loosened up and during the 4th quarter, the game well in hand for Michigan, a 31-3 blowout, I decided to join my team. As I made it down the countless stairs, gritting my teeth on each step, I was wondering what the hell was I thinking? We need me on the field like we needed a hole in the head. This story was over in the 1st Quarter.As I got to the field the action was on the other end. I stayed put standing next to an old friend, former stringer, and another photographer, three of us. As they had all day, Ohio State punted. I see Desmond Howard screaming down field and started making pictures of him running towards me, into the end zone, looping around, then low and behold, he strikes the Heisman pose after returning a 93-yard punt for a touchdown. Looking up the stairs, like a climb of the Mayan Ruins, I immediately began the painful trek towards the darkroom. I knew three people at best had it, none my competitors. A picture made because of back trouble was on the front sports pages the next day and caused a firestorm for Desmond Howard and threats that his arrogance might cost him the Heisman. It didn’t.© Joe Polimeni Photography

Desmond Howard Heisman Pose Tearsheet

President Ronald Reagan and wife Nancy at Republican National Convention 1988 — President Ronald Reagan and wife Nancy at Republican National Convention 1988
In 1988 in the Presidential Box at the Republican National Convention in New Orleans 1988. President Ronald Reagan and Nancy support his Vice President George W. Bush’s run for the White House.© Joe Polimeni Photography

President Ronald Reagan and wife Nancy at Republican National Convention 1988

New York Yankees knuckleballer Phil Niekro short of 300 wins — New York Yankees knuckleballer Phil Niekro short of 300 wins
It was becoming comical. New York Yankees knuckleballer Phil Niekro was trying to make history, being a 300-game winner. A major milestone in Major League Baseball. His last outings didn’t go as planned and the season was drawing to a close. He was stuck at 299. When the Yankees were coming to Detroit, and Niekro was going to pitch, I got a call from my boss to make sure I’d be ready. Truth be told, Yankees anything required you to be ready. They were the Yankees. I called Nikon and borrowed a 600mm lens to get up close and personal. I had a few remotes around the stadium being triggered with technology that mimicked garage door openers. It was 1985 and it worked. It was September 18, 1985, the 7th inning and the Yankees were up 2-0. Things were looking good, until the 8th inning. They went south in a hurry, the Tigers scored 5 runs. I didn’t care about the Tigers, my lens never left Niekro as he watched the runner’s cross home. The look on his face was priceless and the 600mm lens did what it was supposed to do, got me close. Another day and still at 299. Two weeks and several outings later, on October 6, Niekro gained entry into the 300 win club with a shutout win over the Toronto Blue Jays. My boss entered my picture into the Baseball Hall of Fame contest. It won 1st place. Being a baseball nut most of my life, I was truly honored. The plaque hasn’t moved from my office since I put it up. Niekro played 24 seasons, had 318 career victories, the most by a knuckleball pitcher and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997. © Joe Polimeni Photography

New York Yankees knuckleballer Phil Niekro short of 300 wins

Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones at Madison Square Garden. — Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones at Madison Square Garden.
Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones at Madison Square Garden I shot more than 30 years ago in New York. © Joe Polimeni Photography

Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones at Madison Square Garden.

NY Mets' Tom Seaver 200 strikeouts ninth straight year. — NY Mets' Tom Seaver 200 strikeouts ninth straight year.
Lessons Learned. It was 1969, Borden’s, the brand of milk my mother bought, growing up in Brooklyn, would print coupons on the side of their quart containers. If you collected a certain amount, you could exchange them for ticket to a Met game at Shea Stadium. My friends and I decided we were going to collect enough and take the train to Shea. The tickets were for the bleachers, but also a weekday day game, so we could easily sneak into the reserved seating area. Most of our fathers were diehard Yankee Fans, or Brooklyn Dodger fans. This also was a way of rebelling, Woo Hoooo. Funny, going to a baseball game and you don’t realize how it’s going to affect your life forever.It was early in the season, as we made our way from the bleachers to the reserved seats, Superstars Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman and Nolan Ryan were being interviewed. It was the Amazing’ Mets and arguably the best starting Rotation in baseball. We were on the 1st base line practically on the field. As the Interview ended I watched as Seaver took what looked like a CB radio antenna, you know, the kind with a big spring on the bottom and the antenna that appeared 10 feet long. Seaver grabbed the base and put it on his head, like Martians were being depicted in cartoons. A reserved Nolan Ryan looked more embarrassed and Koosman was laughing uncontrollably. Seaver was having the time of his life. And my camera was home, on top of a table in my bedroom. I never shot a frame, and learned one of the most important lessons of my career. Yes I would make that mistake once more and got called out on it by a very celebrated photographer.The Amazin’ Mets stunned the world and won the World Series that year. Eight years later I’m covering the Met game as a professional photographer for UPI, one of the biggest wire services. I was standing in the very spot I watched a fun picture pass me by. My assignment was Tom Seaver going for his ninth straight 200-strikeout season. I brought a 400 mm from the office to make some tight pictures. As I’m packing up, Dan Farrell from the New York Daily News, one of my photo heroes growing up, said to me – Hey kid you coming to the locker room, that’s where the picture is. I lug the 400 into the locker room, ask one of the batboys if he could keep an eye on it as Seaver is posing with the game ball. I was completely awe struck and froze. I remember the moment like it was yesterday, and that’s a lot of yesterdays, September 4, 1976. In typical NY fashion Farrell looked at me and said, Kid, are you going to ask him on a date or make a picture? I snapped out it and shot a few framesSeveral years later in 1991 while on assignment in Hawaii shooting the Aloha Bowl I saw Seaver and his family as they were having breakfast. Seaver noticed the cameras, smiled got up and thanked me for a series of prints I gave him long ago. My knees felt like rubber still respecting my childhood hero.© Joe Polimeni Photography

NY Mets' Tom Seaver 200 strikeouts ninth straight year.

Gabreilla Sabatini wins US Open 1990 — Gabreilla Sabatini wins US Open 1990
Living in a vacuumI love editors, art directors and creative directors. There, I admit it. Too often when looking at your work, with no other experienced or qualified outside eyes, you can easily get trapped and your work gets stagnant.September 1990: I was into the first week of one my favorite assignments, the two-week U. S. Tennis Open. I was feeling good about the work I produced thus far, the weather was beautiful and the landscape of tennis stars was changing.As I entered our workspace at the Tennis Center the office phone was ringing. Yes, the office phone -- Cell phones, text, computers and email were in their infancy. It was my boss, he said come to the office. My response, “in Manhattan?” The phone hung up, -- so off to Manhattan we go. He hands me the series of pictures I transmitted the past few days and asked, “What do you see?” I looked, and looked again. He restated his question,“ what don’t you see?” I responded - they look the same, different people, but the same; same lens, same spot where I shot them. “Exactly!” So I said I need the 600 mm lens. We had one fortunately at Shea Stadium, which was right next door to the Tennis Center. The photographer covering the Mets wasn’t all to happy I took the lens he liked using from an overhead position, but in my boss’ eye it was a win win, now he too has to change things up.So I parade into the Tennis Center with a 600 mm. It wasn’t a lens of choice to shoot tennis. Remember all the technologies talked about previously in their infancy; auto focus wasn't even a twinkle in a photographers eye. You had to follow focus, with a 600 mm, with very active tennis players, moving randomly, it wasn't all too easy. Lets just say I was the only photographer crazy enough, that day, with a 600 mm.Gabriela Sabatini, a stunning 20 year old Argentinean, who looked liked she also belonged on the runway during Fashion Week, as well as a tennis court, was ripping it up. I focused on Gabby. During practice I saw this was going to be a challenge keeping her in focus as well as following her on the court. I kept remembering an old saying, “talent takes you so far, and luck always runs out.”She's been beating her opponents quickly, which didn’t give me much time to experiment. She was known for a wicked backhand and she had a way of setting up for it. I took a different approach, instead of trying to follow her, I waited until she got to a spot and like a hunter pulled the trigger.Fuji was a title sponsor and had film processing at the press center, yes film; I told you, the technology of today was in its infancy. Looking at the film I held my breath, then there it was. Luck didn’t run out.I made a print and “back in the day” -- I just love that saying -- no Internet, when the wire services only transmitted 130 or so pictures a day, at 10 minutes each, I get on the speaker and announce “recommended color from U.S. Open.” That meant there would be three transmissions, 30 minutes, Magenta, Cyan and Yellow printers to make up a color pictures back then. There was a pause from the network director, then -- now from the Open, recommended color.I knew my boss was going to the fax machine to look. This was either going to be my last day covering my favorite assignment, or I get to live another day. I don’t think I counted to one, when the first printer was finished transmitting and the phone rang. My boss said, "Carry on,” almost like Meryl Streep’s’ character Miranda Priestly in “The Devil Wears Prada.” he hung up – and that was that. I got the message, loud and clear.Sabatini won the Open that year defeating Steffi Graf in the final; I won a few awards for the picture. The awards didn’t mean much, what did was learning that even though you feel your pictures are good, they can be better, change is a good thing, and winning my boss’ respect was far greater than any plaque. © Joe Polimeni Photography

Gabreilla Sabatini wins US Open 1990

Christie Brinkley At Formula One Grand Prix — Christie Brinkley At Formula One Grand Prix
When Formula One racing briefly came to Detroit, it brought celebrities worldwide. While cruising the pits, 6/4/82, looking for said celebrities, low and behold I put on the brakes when seeing Christie Brinkley who was getting coffee for her and her boyfriend. I read months earlier during fashion show season she was reportedly dating driver Olivier Chandon DeBrailles, (L), the young heir to the Chandon-Moet champagne fortune, who was speaking with driver Elio de Angelis. Nine months later, at 27, he was killed when a car he was testing hit a retaining wall at more than 100-mph. © Joe Polimeni Photography

Christie Brinkley At Formula One Grand Prix

George Bush campaigns for President 1980 — George Bush campaigns for President 1980
May 1980: Presidential hopeful George W. Bush enjoys a gift he received from a supporter on the streets of Detroit, a Chinese yo-yo, and makes great use of it to keep the media at bay.© Joe Polimeni Photography

George Bush campaigns for President 1980

Angela Davis 1979 — Angela Davis 1979
Angela Davis, a prominent Black American political activist, feminist and Marxist, of the 1960’s, founding member of the Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism (CCDS) and a longtime member of the Communist Party USA (CPUSA), sits under the party’s logo as she makes pictures of people on the dais during its triennial convention in Detroit, 8/24/1979, Davis was sitting in for Gus Hall, the Party’s secretary and was to address a weekend rally. She is also the author of over ten books on class, gender, race, and the US prison system. © Joe Polimeni Photography

Angela Davis 1979

Muhammad Ali vs Ken Norton — Muhammad Ali vs Ken Norton
September 28, 1976, Yankee Stadium: Muhammad Ali battles Ken Norton. Of the many things I photographed over the years, the Ali fights were some of the most thrilling. © Joe Polimeni Photography

Muhammad Ali vs Ken Norton

Texas Rangers Nolan Ryan pitches — Texas Rangers Nolan Ryan pitches
First saw Nolan Ryan pitch in 1969, the year the New York Mets won the World Series. Believe it or not he wasn’t in the starting rotation with Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman, but a reliever. In the 1969 World Series, Ryan saved Game 3, pitching 2 1/3 shutout innings against the Baltimore Orioles. The victory gave the Mets a 2–1 lead in the Series and went on to win in five games. It was Ryan's only World Series appearance in his career. A right hander, Ryan consistently threw pitches clocked above 100 miles per hour before it was common. Ryan is the all-time leader in no-hitters with seven, three more than any other pitcher. He never pitched a perfect game and amazingly never won a Cy Young Award. His 5,714 career strikeouts is an MLB record by a significant margin. Ryan had a lifetime record of 324–292 (.526) and was an eight-time MLB All-Star. His lifetime batting average of .204 is also a major league record for a pitcher. I think back as a kid at Shea Stadium seeing him for the first time with a Nikon and 50mm lens. A few years later I covered him countless times breaking records, here with an 600mm. What a difference a day makes. © Joe Polimeni Photography

Texas Rangers Nolan Ryan pitches

1974: Twin Towers of the World Trade Center — 1974: Twin Towers of the World Trade Center
This photography thing seemed to be working out and was making a little money. So it was time to expand my lens range and bought a 24mm. No better way to test it out then on the World Trade Towers with a little Kodachrome early one morning.© Joe Polimeni Photography

1974: Twin Towers of the World Trade Center

Deal — Deal
The agreement is done with the official handshake. © Joe Polimeni Photography

Deal