Faces of Ground Zero: Portraits of the Heroes of September 11, 2001

by Joe McNally, LIFE, Rudolph W. Giuliani (Tribute)

LIFE Magazine photographer Joe McNally presents 150 photographs taken with his one-of-a-kind camera, a 12-foot by 12-foot high Polaroid which takes pictures 40 inches wide by 80 inches tall - larger than life-size. The series presents the (mostly) anonymous heroes of Ground Zero.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Photography

160 pages, Hardcover

First published June 26, 2002

About the author

An accomplished and widely-respected photographer, Joe McNally got his start as a newspaper photographer in New York, eventually becoming a staff photographer for Time magazine and a frequent contributor to National Geographic, Sports Illustrated, and numerous other publications.

Particularly noted for his portraits, McNally teaches numerous workshops throughout the year.

See McNally's own website or his biography at National Geographic's site for more.

Reviews

[Lenore Kuipers-Cummins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This outstanding book by Joe McNally was an incredible look at just some of the people involved in all of different aspects of 9/11. The photos were taken voluntarily with a one-of -a -kind camera that has the lens of a U-2 spy plane. It created photographs that were 8 feet tall and 12 feet long. It represents firefighters, rescue workers, doctors, Trade Center employees, students and police officers. Each person included has something to say about their experience. There are 150 portraits gathered for the first time. They eventually traveled across America, Asia and Europe.
It makes me proud to read about the many, many brave people that were involved in all aspects of 9/11, It makes me proud to be an American, where people band together for a common cause. It also makes me realize the evilness of 9/11. Why would a group of people want to kill so many innocent people? It really made me very sad to think of all of the people that were lost that day.

[Charity · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a problem to this day with how close I came to not being around for my sons. They're so young, two and one. They don't yet realize how much I love them. After spending a week at the site, which was like digging up a graveyard, I wrote them a letter. If anything happens, at least they'll know how I feel about them, what I want for them, how much I love them. --Phil Piarulli, Firefighter, Squad 270, FDNY

[Maria Padilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

The lives of the people who survived from the towers falling on that scary day. Watching the buildings burn and then falling was a sad day we will never forget. I was home, and my mother woke me up when my older brother called from Florida. He told my mom to turn the television on because something was happening down at the World Trade Center. The plane hitting the first tower was on repeat over and over.
I remember this day like it was yesterday.

[Kerah Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

21 years later and reading these stories of these men and women who either survived, lost family members or who worked hard for find others still hits hard. It’s very nicely put together by the author and photographers to honor everyone involved.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even 18 years later it is still so emotional. Never forget

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

These photos of 9/11 survivors were taken beginning on Sept 27, 2001 and for three weeks afterward. The photos were taken using a camera that is exposed on an 8 foot tall piece of film. The words and photos of each subject are haunting and inspiring.

[Simon · Rating 2 out of 5]

meh. I struggled through this, just cause I read it for the sake of reading it.

I got this book from a box sale a few years ago and it sat on a shelf collecting dust. I finally just picked it up and read it.
I've decided to give this book to my library cause I have no need for it in my own life.

September 11th was a terrible day and I sat like millions of others, watching the TV. I wasn't there. I was in a whole other counrty. I didn't feel the pain that the people in this book did. I just, went on.

For someone who was there...this book would mean a whole lot more to them.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED the photos, and loved that Joe McNally did this book. Gives you some truly up close stories from many perspectives on 9/11. Joe McNally even talked about some of the friendships that carry on from this project (on his blog). But the stories were, obviously, very sad, and I found I couldn't read many of them at one sitting. May God bless these heroes!

[Daniel Tinkel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rudolph Giulani did not write this book, he did the foreword. Tis needs to be fixed. This was the hard work of Joe McNally & his crew. A must-see book.

[Earl Pike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deeply moving. An incredible personalization of something so tragic. Just beautiful.