Ground Zero Photography
So today is the five-year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York City. I said it two years ago and I'll say it again- It hardly feels like that much time has gone by. Instead of writing some speech about my feelings and how we're all New Yorkers or some such sentimental remembrance, I thought I'd let some photography do it for me.
Almost a year ago, on October 20th while on my cross-country road trip, I visited Ground Zero in Manhattan. In that journal post--made after I returned to Pennsylvania to continue the voyage--I only included 3 cropped and scaled down images. This year, I thought I'd re-post better versions of those images plus more of the images I took when I was there and put it behind the LJ cut below.
My hope is that my photos of the site, taken from the ground level as opposed to typical journalistic views from high up in neighboring towers, may show you a vantage point you'd not normally see from TV newscasts. If you haven't made the trip or can't in the foreseeable future, you can look at these photos and take home a small piece of understanding of what it's like to really be there.
Click on any image to view the full sized image.
Cross at Ground Zero
This is the cross, one of the last pieces of original material left standing (Although I believe this has been moved into this position).
Ground Zero 1
As close as the public can get.
Ground Zero 2
Ground Zero 3
Ground Zero 4
Here's the makeshift fence with some information on it. Hardly a memorial, but that's all there is right now.
Michael Flemming and his Traveling Flag 1
Michael Flemming was a guy I met while walking all the way completely around the Trade Center site. He explained to me that his flag was on a cross country trip as well and that he was collecting patches and signatures.
Michael Flemming and his Traveling Flag 2
Michael Flemming and his Traveling Flag 3
Michael Flemming and his Traveling Flag 4 with my Oregon signature
My contribution.
Michael Flemming and his Traveling Flag 5
Ground Zero 5
More of the fence.
Ground Zero 6
This was taken from a plateau on Liberty Street south of the site.
Ground Zero 7
Looking down on West Street from Liberty Street
Ground Zero 8
This is from the second level of the World Financial Center opposite the fence. Some may recognize this view from photos taken immediately after 9/11 when these windows were blown out.
Ground Zero 9
More from the WFC's second floor looking east.
Ground Zero 10
Some of the damage to other building was still showing.
Ground Zero 11
Almost a year ago, on October 20th while on my cross-country road trip, I visited Ground Zero in Manhattan. In that journal post--made after I returned to Pennsylvania to continue the voyage--I only included 3 cropped and scaled down images. This year, I thought I'd re-post better versions of those images plus more of the images I took when I was there and put it behind the LJ cut below.
My hope is that my photos of the site, taken from the ground level as opposed to typical journalistic views from high up in neighboring towers, may show you a vantage point you'd not normally see from TV newscasts. If you haven't made the trip or can't in the foreseeable future, you can look at these photos and take home a small piece of understanding of what it's like to really be there.
Click on any image to view the full sized image.
Cross at Ground Zero
This is the cross, one of the last pieces of original material left standing (Although I believe this has been moved into this position).
Ground Zero 1
As close as the public can get.
Ground Zero 2
Ground Zero 3
Ground Zero 4
Here's the makeshift fence with some information on it. Hardly a memorial, but that's all there is right now.
Michael Flemming and his Traveling Flag 1
Michael Flemming was a guy I met while walking all the way completely around the Trade Center site. He explained to me that his flag was on a cross country trip as well and that he was collecting patches and signatures.
Michael Flemming and his Traveling Flag 2
Michael Flemming and his Traveling Flag 3
Michael Flemming and his Traveling Flag 4 with my Oregon signature
My contribution.
Michael Flemming and his Traveling Flag 5
Ground Zero 5
More of the fence.
Ground Zero 6
This was taken from a plateau on Liberty Street south of the site.
Ground Zero 7
Looking down on West Street from Liberty Street
Ground Zero 8
This is from the second level of the World Financial Center opposite the fence. Some may recognize this view from photos taken immediately after 9/11 when these windows were blown out.
Ground Zero 9
More from the WFC's second floor looking east.
Ground Zero 10
Some of the damage to other building was still showing.
Ground Zero 11