NY911.F10.11.12 | Spring 2001 | View of the Statue of Liberty and the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge from the rooftop of the World Trade Center south tower

New York 9/11

In memory of Alexander Lygin

Living in New York, I witnessed the events of 9/11 on my way to work. Back then, I used to carry a camera with me at all times, which allowed me to capture these photographs.

This was an extremely difficult time; the magnitude of the destruction has shaken the sense of reality in everyone in New York City.

In the days that followed, my friends and I were searching through hospitals in the city for our close friend Alexander Lygin, who worked at Cantor Fitzgerald on the 104th floor of 1 World Trade Center. At that time we did not know that he was not coming home. On September 14th I stayed in the city overnight; the night view of the Ground Zero was photographed then.

Looking back, I realize that I was incapable of shooting a single image that could be personally connected to Sasha: the walls of photographs of missing people, hospitals, memorials, faces of people who were desperately searching for their loved ones.

This is an account of both loss and strength that filled the air of New York City at that time – a selection of photographs followed by a complete archive as a film.

NY911.F10.18.1 · Spring 2001 · The top of the World Trade Center north tower at 1368 feet (417 m)
NY911.F10.10 · Spring 2001 · View of the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges from the World Trade Center south tower
NY911.F10.16R · Spring 2001 · View of the Empire State Building from the World Trade Center south tower
NY911.F10.23 · Summer 2001 · New York skyline from the Staten Island Ferry

September 11, 2001

NY911.F01.01 · 9/11/2001 · (shot through a fence on Smith 9th Street stop of the F train in Brooklyn)
NY911.F01.05 · 9/11/2001
NY911.F01.06 · 9/11/2001 · 9:59 AM. Collapse of the World Trade Center south tower
NY911.F01.07 · 9/11/2001 · 9:59 AM. Collapse of the World Trade Center south tower
NY911.F01.09 · 9/11/2001
NY911.F01.11 · 9/11/2001

NY911.F01.13 · 9/11/2001

NY911.F01.16 · 9/11/2001

NY911.F01.20 · 9/11/2001 · A burnt document flew over to Brooklyn
NY911.F01.22 · 9/11/2001 · Brooklyn
NY911.F01.27 · 9/11/2001 · View of Manhattan across the East River from the Brooklyn Heights promenade
NY911.F01.32 · 9/11/2001 · View of Manhattan across the East River from the Brooklyn Heights promenade
NY911.F01.34 · 9/11/2001 · View of Manhattan across the East River from the Brooklyn Heights promenade
NY911.F02.02 · 9/11/2001 · View of Manhattan across the East River from the Brooklyn Heights promenade
NY911.F02.06 · 9/11/2001 · View of Manhattan across the East River from the Brooklyn Heights promenade
NY911.F02.07 · 9/11/2001 · View of Manhattan across the East River from the Brooklyn Heights promenade
NY911.F02.12 · 9/11/2001 · Under the Brooklyn Bridge
NY911.F02.16 · 9/11/2001 · Under the Brooklyn Bridge
NY911.F02.21 · 9/11/2001 · Under the Brooklyn Bridge
NY911.F02.23 · 9/11/2001 · Under the Brooklyn Bridge

September 14, 2001 · Union Square

NY911.F02.35 · 9/14/2001 · Union Square
NY911.F02.37 · 9/14/2001 · Union Square
NY911.F03.06 · 9/14/2001 · Union Square
NY911.F03.08 · 9/14/2001 · Union Square
NY911.F03.13 · 9/14/2001 · Union Square
NY911.F03.16 · 9/14/2001 · Union Square
NY911.F03.19 · 9/14/2001 · Union Square
NY911.F03.21 · 9/14/2001 · Union Square

September 14 – 15, 2001

NY911.F03.26 · 9/14/2001 · Deserted city street
NY911.F03.29 · 9/14/2001

NY911.F03.30 · 9/14/2001 · Ground Zero

NY911.F04.06 · 9/14/2001 · Ground Zero

NY911.F04.07 · 9/14/2001 · Ground Zero

NY911.F04.12 · 9/14/2001
NY911.F04.16 · 9/14/2001
NY911.F04.23 · 9/14/2001
NY911.F04.24 · 9/14/2001
NY911.F04.31 · 9/14/2001
NY911.F04.32 · 9/14/2001
NY911.F04.34 · 9/14/2001
NY911.F05.01 · 9/14/2001

NY911.F05.08a · 9/14/2001 · Ground Zero

NY911.F05.13 · 9/14/2001

NY911.F05.17 · 9/14/2001 · Ground Zero

NY911.F05.20 · 9/15/2001
NY911.F05.23 · 9/15/2001

NY911.F05.24 · 9/15/2001 · Ground Zero

NY911.F05.26 · 9/15/2001 · Ground Zero

NY911.F05.32 · 9/15/2001

NY911.F05.34 · 9/15/2001 · Ground Zero

NY911.F06.17 · 9/15/2001

NY911.F06.19 · 9/15/2001 · Ground Zero

NY911.F06.23 · 9/15/2001
NY911.F06.26 · 9/15/2001
NY911.F06.30 · 9/15/2001
NY911.F07.05 · 9/15/2001

NY911.F07.13 · 9/15/2001 · Ground Zero

NY911.F07.37 · 9/15/2001
NY911.F08.01 · 9/15/2001
NY911.F08.07 · 9/15/2001
NY911.F08.30 · 9/15/2001
NY911.F08.34 · 9/15/2001
NY911.F08.17 · 9/15/2001
NY911.F08.23 · 9/15/2001
NY911.F08.29 · 9/15/2001
NY911.F09.05 · 9/15/2001
NY911.F08.36 · 9/15/2001
NY911.F09.07 · 9/15/2001

2002

NY911.F10.06 · 2002
In memory of my best friend Alexander Lygin who is greatly missed ever since
The complete archive of about 200 photographs as a film

Editorial use, high-resolution files, captions, and interview requests: studio@michaelezra.com

Selected photographs are available without a licensing fee for appropriate editorial, historical, educational, and commemorative use. Permission and photographer credit are required.