Ground Zero Spirit [2001]

[…] The Falling Man is the photograph taken by Richard Drew at 9:41:15 a.m., on September 11, 2001 showing one of the many men jumping from the WTC towers. The photograph provoked feelings of anger in the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks, particularly in the United States. It ran only once in many American newspapers because they received critical and angry letters from readers who felt the photo was exploitative, voyeuristic, and disrespectful of the dead. This led to the media’s self-censorship of the photograph, preferring instead to print photos of acts of heroism and sacrifice. […]

This photo has powerful echoes in an American cultural context of the Iwo Jima flag raising photo. That resonates for Americans. At a time of national tragedy, it will give them hope, as that previous photo related to a war they won after tremendous sacrifice.

What resonates for me is the dust in this picture. I think of the risk to health - which these workers either knowingly or unknowingly had to bear.