September 11, 2001

This is a photo-journal of my experience on 9/11/2001.

On the day of the World Trade Center attack, I was living inside what is now known as "Ground Zero". My apartment, in this picture, is one of the buildings closer to the WTC on the left side.

I found myself shooting these photographs as the entire event unfolded. Running from the falling tower, I was evacuated to New Jersey on a tugboat from Battery Park.

This photo journal is my way of sharing my experience with other people. Please feel free to share it with others. If it makes a difference, if it reaches one more person who may take away something from it, I am grateful. If you feel so inclined, I would be happy to hear from you (whether it be your experience, or otherwise - and many thanks to those who have sent me kind thoughts and wishes through this ordeal).

I revisited the whole ordeal a year later. I will try to link the comparison images along the way, but you can see the entire set here.

See this very location in a blizzard, just 9 months prior, "WTC in the Snow".

[Text of series edited, revised to include links to comparison shots in other sets. 8.24.06]

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Comments

Opal in the rough says:

i wonder why no one has commented on this.
Even almost 6 years later, it still shocks me that this happened. I'm so glad you are safe. these are amazing pictures.
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

*Hiro says:

Thanks Opal, it certainly makes me appreciate being alive...
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

baccarita says:

Thanks for showing us all this journal, this means you're alive... glad to know this.
It's so shocking and sad... a day that would be never forgotten.
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

Desired says:

Me too expected more comments on this pic.
Thank you for showing this pic.
It doesen't feel like 5 years ago, i remember clearly.
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

*Hiro says:

thanks baccarita, desired... I am glad to be here and be able to share the experience.

Many people have seen this photojournal elsewhere (since I didn't get it onto flickr until recently), and many have written me in private to share their experience or their reactions.

But I think it is probably a private reaction for many others, who will keep their reactions to themselves. Commenting publicly may not be the natural response, unlike most other photos. In any case, if people come and see, and perhaps take something from it, I am grateful.
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

filu_ska says:

o tak każdy w sercu ma swoje myśli ,zdjęcie jest przerażające bo wiemy i zawsze bedziemy pamiętać co sie stało :( dobrze że już jest bezpiecznie
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

Ken's Aviation says:

Hiro...I have posted a copy of your photo with a link to the 9/11 tribute site cantcryhardenough.com. Thank you for posting these photos.
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

[grep] says:

I could not comprehend how horrific it must have been for you, to witness such brutal attack to the people of the United States. I remember the day I saw this unfold in CNN, it isnt real I said to myself but slowly it sinks into you. It is real and it is happening my God it's really happening! Thank you for sharing this photo.
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

Ingo Vogelmann [deleted] says:

I cry with you today, brother.
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

sherina says:

Thank you for sharing this.
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

svenkataraman says:

Heartbreaking... Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

melby says:

Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

island friend says:

Thank you so much Hiro for this incredible photo memorial. Looking through it has allowed me to reflect on this very sad fifth anniversary of Sept. 11th.
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

*Hiro says:

Thank you all for your kind comments - I am glad my images meant something to you. May you all be safe and well.
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

Ess Pea says:

You too Hiro.
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

Hollingsworth says:

thank you for sharing, sad and impressive.
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

shammie says:

nice photo........ BUT sad moment!!!!
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

Stephie189 says:

Thank you for sharing this collection.
Posted 38 months ago. ( permalink )

hoferjack says:

unbelieveable
Posted 37 months ago. ( permalink )

Tine Kozjak [deleted] says:

For that I was born on the 11th of September, I feel pretty close to that event, back then in 2001.
I would really want to thank you for sharing these photos with us, and for teeling us your story.
Althrough of all bad things, which happened, New York still is one of my favourite cities to live in. Maybe some day in the future... :)
Posted 37 months ago. ( permalink )

blackRose says:

boah, unbelieveable!!!!!
Posted 37 months ago. ( permalink )

SammyKhoo says:

It saddens me so much. I can't even go watch the movie. I know i will cry from beginning to end.
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

cjdaddo1 says:

amen brothers and sisters amen
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

ali_sooon says:

compelling and raw. thanks for sharing
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

Iweczek says:

WordMingle, a social vocabulary building tool, pulled this picture for the word Ordeal
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

Letsemgo says:

Wow. Unreal capture. One of those never forget photos. Thanks for sharing and thank your lord you made it, pray for the ones who didn't.
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

joopvandijk says:

it's still very impressive after all those years
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

Sarah's Photographs says:

God, I'm about to cry. I've been looking at 911 pictures for a few minutes.

It's horrible what you and other people went through, and it tuggs at my heart screaming, and yelling, "It's not right! Why the HELL would anyone do this?"

Moving photo. Thanks for sharing.

-Sarah
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

_MaO_ says:

I have no words.
Stunning, in every possible meaning
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

aus texas says:

thank you for sharing this photo.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

Manu de Taira says:

www.flickr.com/photos/11525516@N00/614512070/
Posted 28 months ago. ( permalink )

photofixation says:

thanks for sharing !!
did you blog it somewhere else also or its only on flickr

--
Seen in a tag search. (?)
Posted 28 months ago. ( permalink )

*Hiro says:

Thank you all - Peace and safety to you and yours.

I did have these on a few different locations on the web initially. At first they were up at a commercial photo-printing site, then its own website, and now here. Some of these images were used in the NIST investigation of the collapse, and the final congressional report - apparently the South side photographs were less common, and time stamp between the images (digital) helped with figuring out how the fire spread.
Posted 28 months ago. ( permalink )

GregPC says:

Hi - I'm working with the World Trade Center Memorial Foundation and have been looking around Flickr for images. We just started a new group - National September 11 Memorial & Museum - and we'd love it if you'd share some of your photos.

Thanks very much,

Greg Peverill-Conti
Weber Shandwick
Posted 28 months ago. ( permalink )

~Dharmainfrisco~ says:

That's such a powerful shot... I'm sorry to hear you had to evacuated and your apartment was on ground zero. But at least you still have your life!
I remember that day so clearly, it was early and i was running late for school i turned on the TV (which i never do) and i watched live as the towers got hit. stunned i though i was watching a movie.... but when i'd try and change the channel it was the news, and more news. Immediatley i called my mom and friends i must have been hysterical. I just couldn't grasp what evil could do such a thing. Part of me wishes i was there so i could help or do something other then sit frozen on my couch praying that everyone get out safely.

where i'm from (Canada) i live in 1 of the largest cities and remember people in such fear that they evacuated all the high rise buildings... my school pulled out the TV and watched the tragedy live.
I just remember alot of silence and crying... myself included most people i knew who were tough as steel teared up.

From that day i woke up and relised that no one is ever truly safe, i learned about pain, i learned that we as humans have hearts, i was surprised to see strangers coming together at a time when new york was at it's low. I'm glad to see the city getting back on track and i know that ground zero is under construction with a new building, but somehow i just want the place to be left as it is so when people walk by we remember...
Posted 27 months ago. ( permalink )

adri_torres says:

That is unbealivable!!!!
Posted 26 months ago. ( permalink )

hzq014306 says:

T-T
Posted 25 months ago. ( permalink )

jessicaturner305@btinternet.com says:

wow i cant belive you was there, did u see any people jump?
Posted 25 months ago. ( permalink )

Eisenheim. says:

great shot , bad day
Posted 25 months ago. ( permalink )

mwhammer says:

pretty astounding. what was the sound like, given that you were likely in your home when the collision occurred? what an irreversible moment, event.
Posted 24 months ago. ( permalink )

Cherry'B says:

I live in the UK but have never ever got over this happening. This is an amazing photo even though its still disturbing to think of why.

I know people who had family members lost in the trade centre and I have the greatest admiration for the fire crews and police involved even still to this day.

Youre lucky to be alive. Amazing shots.

Rachel
Posted 23 months ago. ( permalink )

allr1 says:

thank you.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Sean Conroy* says:

It's nearly a surreal picture for me. Despite the lack of people in the shot, it's very emotional.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

ѕhadowdancer says:

buster.ball Was that supposed to be oh-so-clever? It wasn't.

Hiro, thank you for sharing this with us. No matter how many years go by, it still affects most of us very deeply. Very glad you made it.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

t.moniz says:

Im still shock everytime i see a picture or read something about it.. it happenend..yes..unfortunally nothing can be done...althought pictures and experiences will be part of our lifes forever, even if it will be on the negative way... i can t imagine what you must had fell in that moment, no one can, only the ones who lived that horror personally..
thank you for sharing, may God always Look on you!
Posted 19 months ago. ( permalink )

~THAT KID RICH~ © says:

Oh yes it was a fuckd up day!!!!!
Posted 18 months ago. ( permalink )

AllenFreeman says:

I just read the book "102 Minutes". Great book about this tragic event. I think I've seen every video there has been about it also. I just looked though a book of photos put out by LIFE magazine where the photographer took full size shots of some of the people involved with the event.. Found you doing a search here......great photos and love your information that goes with them.
Posted 18 months ago. ( permalink )

sashasue says:

Thank you for sharing these amazing photos.
Looking at this one, it makes me wonder how these buildings fell.
We must continue to ask questions...
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

happygirlcici says:

god bless you,thank you for sharing your expersience with us
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Andrea Martelli says:

thanks for sharing your experience with all the world.
I'm with you
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Qlkowa says:

Oh my God, you saw it!
I saw today a movie about WTC attack and I still can't understand it.
The most amazing is one man who was 6 metres from the plane (which became into his office) is alive!
Posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )

michaudgilbert says:

bin laden did not miss the target . . humans behaves strangely . it started the new century in violence and war
Posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )

►žigulīts says:

It still feels like it happened just yesterday...
Posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

Impala74 says:

....
...
thanks for sharing your photos about that terrible day
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

NikonPhotographyFan [deleted] says:

What type of camera took this ?
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

oldmancu says:

What a shot that is - and a breathtaking set.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Clark Graff says:

Great photo. Please consider adding it to the group Remembering September 11, 2001.
Posted 2 months ago. ( permalink )

*Hiro says:

Thanks to all who took their time to go through my photojournal, and shared with others. I am thankful again today, for the kindness of my friends and strangers.

On the 8th anniversary of this day, I have been asked to turn this photojournal into a "featured story" for the National 9/11 Memorial Museum's online collection. You can see what they did with it, here
Posted 2 months ago. ( permalink )

oldmancu says:

Brilliant work Hiro - I hope your excellent Featured Story is remembered many years from now.

Best wishes
Posted 2 months ago. ( permalink )

FrizzText says:

greetings by

Posted 2 months ago. ( permalink )

Gray Moon Gallery says:

They went too far!

Posted 2 months ago. ( permalink )

Lukas Van Laethem says:

So amazing!
Posted 2 months ago. ( permalink )

@Lukas: No it was not amazing!!!!!!
Posted 2 months ago. ( permalink )

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	*Hiro's photostream
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This photo also belongs to:

	9/11 WTC Attack Photojournal (Set)
		52 items
	Part of: Photography and New York City

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	memento mori. (Pool)
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	Say NO to ALL terrorism; Flickrians for peace! (Pool)
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	1 day we'll have the most photos on Flickr (Pool)
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180 people call this photo a favorite

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Taken on September 11, 2001
Viewed 28,532 times
Replaced on April 14, 2006

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September 11, 2001

Comments

Opal in the rough says:

*Hiro says:

baccarita says:

Desired says:

*Hiro says:

filu_ska says:

Ken's Aviation says:

[grep] says:

Ingo Vogelmann [deleted] says:

sherina says:

svenkataraman says:

*melby* says:

island friend says:

*Hiro says:

Ess Pea says:

Hollingsworth says:

shammie says:

Stephie189 says:

hoferjack says:

Tine Kozjak [deleted] says:

*blackRose* says:

SammyKhoo says:

cjdaddo1 says:

ali_sooon says:

Iweczek says:

Letsemgo says:

joopvandijk says:

Sarah's Photographs says:

_MaO_ says:

aus texas says:

Manu de Taira says:

photofixation says:

*Hiro says:

GregPC says:

*~Dharmainfrisco~* says:

adri_torres says:

hzq014306 says:

jessicaturner305@btinternet.com says:

Eisenheim. says:

mwhammer says:

Cherry'B says:

allr1 says:

Sean Conroy* says:

ѕhadowdancer says:

t.moniz says:

~*THAT KID RICH*~ © says:

AllenFreeman says:

sashasue says:

happygirlcici says:

Andrea Martelli says:

Qlkowa says:

michaudgilbert says:

►žigulīts says:

Impala74 says:

NikonPhotographyFan [deleted] says:

oldmancu says:

Clark Graff says:

*Hiro says:

oldmancu says:

FrizzText says:

Gray Moon Gallery says:

Lukas Van Laethem says:

~*THAT KID RICH*~ © says:

Would you like to comment?

*Hiro's photostream

9/11 WTC Attack Photojournal (Set)

New York City (Pool)

memento mori. (Pool)

Say NO to ALL terrorism; Flickrians for peace! (Pool)

World Trade Center (Pool)

1 day we'll have the most photos on Flickr (Pool)

Tags

Additional Information

melby says:

blackRose says:

~Dharmainfrisco~ says:

~THAT KID RICH~ © says:

~THAT KID RICH~ © says: