Last Updated on 09/11/2024 by Nilofer Khan
“I never screamed on 9/11,” says photographer Melanie Einzig to the Phoblographer in an interview. “I remember thinking that scream was probably stuck in my body. The following summer was heartbreaking but also strange that tourists and locals came to Ground Zero to see something when there was actually not much available to view.” She continues to tell us that the city had been missing around 3,000 people and that her throat would close up every time she went to lower Manhattan. For our 2024 coverage of 9/11, Melanie showed us this image — shot a year after the towers fell.
All images by Melanie Einzig. Used with permission. For more, please visit her website and follow her on Instagram @melanie_einzig.
It’s still tough for Melanie to look at photos from that time. When a friend suggested that she put them together into a book, Melanie found the task too depressing. It brings back memories of how the US was so quick to go to war, the nationalistic fervor, and people still trying to find their loved ones. While many of her colleagues went to Afghanistan to cover the war, she could barely get out of her front door.
In fact, it led to the separation between her and her partner. So for healing, she worked with a poetry therapist for several months. “My way of dealing with it all was to go into a very introspective, mystical approach to working through my feelings and finding hope again,” says Melanie. “But I also went on some USA road trips to try to better understand this country. And I taught a class at NYU titled: Photographing New York After September 11th which was very rewarding and kind of like a group therapy session.”
It’s taken some time, but Melanie started to talk about things more afterward. When we emailed her for this story, she suggested showing an image that hasn’t been shown before. The image was on her desktop recently, and the native New Yorker inside of me can’t help but remark on how powerful this photograph is. We can see folks of different backgrounds, the I <3 NY merchandise for sale, and the iconic skyline. The reflection in the woman’s glasses as well as her expression are a major part of what makes this image. Combined with all the elements in the background, this image is effective storytelling in that it shows us exactly where we are.
“I happened to notice the cityscape (without the towers) reflected in her sunglasses. Her expression appeared to be both curious and horrified and I didn’t think she was from New York City. There was something about this event that was difficult to conceptualize. It felt like it didn’t quite fit in your brain, the possibility and reality of it. I suppose that was a symptom of the trauma. I like that the four other people in the frame also seem contemplative. We were all trying to make sense of the moment.”
Melanie Einzig
A year after the tragedy, Ms. Einzig remembers watching tourists and people come by and look at the skyline. For years, you could see the iconic Twin Towers. But in this photo, you can’t — because they’re not there anymore. The skyline of New York City hasn’t been the same since.