A Message from Aperture Foundation’s New Executive Director Sarah Meister reflects on the role Aperture has played throughout her life—and how photography brings us together, across continents and decades. Sara Cwynar, Today is my second First Day at a New Job, and I’m giddy with anticipation. My first First Day was in September 1994, fresh out of college, when I walked into the Department of Photography at the Museum of Modern Art. We used typewriters—on occasion, floppy disks at shared computers, no internet or email!—John Szarkowski stopped by regularly, and people smoked in their offices. Every Thursday morning, the curatorial staff would gather to look at portfolios that photographers had dropped off and mailed in from all over the world. I couldn’t believe how fortunate I was to spend my days around amazing photographs and brilliant people. That feeling never waned—and in my new role leading Aperture, I imagine it never will.