Photograph That Stirs Controversy 10 Years After The September 11 Attacks

Photographer Thomas Hoepker captured five young men standing on the waterfront in a park, while behind them could see the two towers, the smoke after being hit by planes, CNN. 

The photo was published only five years after the attacks, and when many people believed that the image was insensitive to the tragedy that occurred. 

The image stirs controversy even now, because it is not clear whether or not who ‘knew what was happening. 

Thomas Hoepker, who took the photo, told CNN how he made the image. The photographer said that the five people in the picture seemed quiet. 
One person said the photo through an email, that they were in shock and did not know what to think about what happened. 

“Thomas did not ask us permission to photograph us and has made no effort to find out what was our state of mind,” said Walter Sipser, the man on the right image. 

One of the women in the photo said that “it was genetically impossible not to be affected by this event.” 

The photographer said he was sure that the image people were aware of what was happening behind them. According to Thomas Hoepker, if you had asked permission to photograph, the picture would not be real.