**Reposted from 9/11/2008**
For the entire week of September 11, 2001 I kept a photo and written diary. Some of the images were exhibited in group fund raising shows at the time and I believe a couple got published in books. I never showed the diary to anyone. I stuck the photos and journal in a drawer and haven’t looked at them since.
I’m posting these now because the reason I made the initial effort was to document history. I’m putting this out there today and then they’ll go back in my drawer.
The day the planes struck, I was in shock. I kept thinking everyone was evacuated and I remember wondering why there were no helicopters to pick up people from the roofs of the towers. At times of great sorrow or fear, the one thing that puts a shield between me and the outside world is my camera. You may think it was insensitive of me to grab my camera, but it was my protection.
If anyone recognizes themselves in these photos and doesn’t want to be out there, please contact me and I’ll take them down immediately.
September 11, 2001
September 12, 2001
September 13, 2001
September 14, 2001
Flickr
3 Comments
I totally get using the camera as a shield. The photographs of that day that always stick with me the most are of people holding their heads in disbelief and the looks on their faces. For so long everyone was waiting for the other shoe to drop especially in those early days just after. The unspoken tension on the subway was very intense for a long time.
I also remember people being very polite to each other for awhile, which was totally freaky in NY. It was 3 weeks to the day when I heard the first car horn and then I knew we were getting back to normal.
Ms. RH,
I am so glad you posted these photos and your diary. I was in Chicago (living in Kansas City – a 2 year work stint) and was transfixed and heartbroken in a way I never felt before. Mostly I wanted to go home and help somebody, do something. I know how you felt, wanting to do SOMETHING. I flew back as soon as I could and spent time with friends and family (brother a FDNY Battalion Chief who lost 30 guys there) and industry friends. I worked downtown for 25 years at that time and had just left a job at the Exchange, down there at Ground Zero and lost colleagues. It was so wrenching I thought my heart was yanked out. I guess it was worse in a way since I wasn’t home. Or maybe it wasn’t. But today my colleagues and I talked about that day and what we did and who we lost and how tight we all were with one another and teared up — I think it is great that you ran around taking pictures. They are great.
I try to remember the feeling of love that we all felt in the midst of that. I would give anything to get that back.