The Falling Man

It is the eve of the 15th anniversary of 9/11 and TIME magazine has once again shined a spotlight on one of the most important photographs taken that day -- the photo of the unnamed "falling man".

The photo was taken by photographer Richard Drew as part of a larger series of images of people jumping from the Twin Towers. This single individual was photographed in several positions before The New York Times used this particular select to put on the front page of their newspaper on September 12, 2001. The image has been controversial because it is graphic without being graphic in nature -- that is, it doesn't show blood, guts, or gore. But everybody knows the inevitable demise of this poor man.

15 years later, this image still shocks me because it always brings me back to that horrific day like no other image. Would I be able to make the decision this man had to make? What must it have been like up there for this to be the better option? :(

If you're curious where the name "The Falling Man" comes from, you can read the 2003 Esquire story that put a title to this image.