9/11

I looked through my archive. The day was crystal clear. It was what I call a ‘blue sky day.’ No clouds, crisp autumn air and I was getting ready for work. I have a view south but the WTC is just out of sight from my kitchen window. The smoke initially caught my attention. I thought it was too much smoke to be coming from lower Manhattan. As it turns out I had seen the smoke from the first explosion and then went to the roof where I could look south. I expected the fire would be controlled quickly. NYC FD is very good. The second explosion threw me. I have no perspective from my view. Then I realized that the two building are not side by side and that fire from one could not simply jump across. This shot is just after the second jet hit the WTC. Not long after the buildings collapsed one at a time. Ten years later I was down at the site and flags were placed in a park. All the names of the victims were inscribed. The profound loss is still haunting – all the more because I was so close to the scene.