Accept the Witness—Richard Drew and “The Falling Man” - September 11th Encore Episode

B&H Photography Podcast

Jill Waterman

Podcast, Photography, Arts, Visual Arts, Bh, Photo

4.6 • 2K Ratings

🗓️ 10 September 2019

⏱️ 52 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

With the anniversary of the September 11 attacks upon us again, those of us in New York City, particularly, think back to that terrible day with great sadness, but also with a certain resolve and a sense of pride for the way we handled this tragedy, how we came together to support each other while fear, confusion, and anger swarmed. Mostly, we remember the friends, neighbors, and co-workers who lost their lives, and the families forever broken.

In September 2017, we published an episode of the B&H Photography Podcast with photojournalist Richard Drew who, like many photographers, raced to the scene of the terrorist attacks that morning, not knowing what to expect nor if they would even return alive. Drew captured the photo that for many encapsulated the horror of that day, so horrible that many outlets refused to print it, but with time, this image—now referred to as “Falling Man”—has become one of the iconic images of our still young century.

Today we will republish our conversation with Richard Drew in memory of all who suffered on that day and in tribute to the journalists who risked their lives to cover this story and to all of the first responders who began the long process of building back our city. Thank you.

Guest: Richard Drew

Transcript

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0:00.0	When I stepped out of my door to get the newspaper on the morning of September 12,
0:04.0	2001, the first thing that struck me was the way the air smelled.
0:08.3	It smelled like burning metal. Drifting slowly above my home, which is located about
0:13.0	34 miles from Lower Manhattan, was a huge grayish brown plume of smoke.
0:17.6	There was no doubt about its source. I opened my newspaper and began reading through it.
0:22.8	When I came to page 7, I stopped cold. There in front of me was one of the most stunning
0:27.9	news photographs I had ever seen. The composition was perfect, parallel vertical lines in a man,
0:34.0	a falling man, poses if he were casually walking down the street on an otherwise beautiful day.
0:40.0	The reality of the image was that he was upside down and falling to his death.
0:44.5	The photograph was simultaneously peaceful and horrifying. In my mind, it's the most
0:49.4	powerful news photograph I've seen to this very day. Yet despite the fact the image was printed
0:54.4	in numerous newspapers on September 12 and is universally recognized for its strength and
0:59.5	significance, it was later suppressed. Editors were called to apologize for publishing it,
1:04.9	and for years the image was not seen. We're coming up on the 16th anniversary of 9-11.
1:10.0	In front of us is the very newspaper I picked up from my front step all those years ago.
1:14.9	Joining John Harris and myself today is the person who captured that page 7 photograph,
1:19.3	Richard Drew, and the photograph that has since become known as the falling man is the topic of
1:24.4	today's show. Before we go any further, we'd like to acknowledge that this is obviously a very
1:29.4	important and sensitive topic. And we're holding this conversation with the utmost of respect,
1:34.7	respect for the victims, the survivors and families, as well as first responders and journalists.
1:40.5	We in this room are all New Yorkers and we were present that horrible day and why we will be
1:44.4	discussing a photograph perhaps in detail. Some will not appreciate. Realize that the sadness,
	...

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