Thomas Hoepker Controversy
On the 11th September 2001, two planes were hijacked and each flown in to the iconic twin towers at the World Trade Centre killing 2852 people. Five years on, in 2006, German photographer Thomas Hoepker released this photo of five New Yorkers sitting across the Hudson River as the sheer disaster of 9/11 unfolds in the background.
At
first, this picture certainly gives off a damning message to patriotic
Americans, still devastated by the events. However there is a strong argument
that this picture, was perhaps, taken with precision and perfect timing. The
five New Yorkers in the photograph appear to be relaxing and having a friendly
conversation with each other, paying no attention to what’s going on behind
them - the reason Hoepker didn’t release it. When the photograph was finally
released, it caused uproar in America and has become one of the most
controversial pictures taken during the attacks.
Walter
Sipser, the man on the far right of the photo gave his own account of the photo
to try and settle the situation. “A snapshot can make mourners at a funeral
look like they are having a party”, a subtle but true point from Sipser who
continued to say, “Me and my then girlfriend watched the towers collapse from
my Brooklyn rooftop and then continued down to the waterfront where we saw
people covered in dust making their way across the Williamsburg Bridge. It was
clear people who ordinarily wouldn’t talk to one another were suddenly bound
together”. It wasn’t an angry approach
from Sipser; however it was a firm one as he tried to defend himself against
the American population.
Sipser’s
girlfriend of the time Chris Schiavo, the woman 2nd from right in
the photo, also gave her account on the picture. She mentioned how she is also
a professional photographer but that she didn’t touch a camera that day. “I am a third-generation native New Yorker,
who knows and loves every square inch of this city. My mother and father are
architects and contributed greatly to the city. It is genetically impossible
for me to not be affected by the attacks.” She even had a dig at Hoepker by
saying “I also have a strict policy of never taking a photograph of a person
without their permission or knowledge of my intent.”
Frank
Rich, a New York Times columnist, gave his own views on Hoepker's image and
caused a bit of controversy in doing so. “What he caught was this: Traumatic as
the attack on America was, 9/11 would recede quickly for many. This is a
country that likes to move on, and fast. The young people in Mr Hoepker’s photo
aren’t necessarily callous. They’re just American.” These words from Rich upset
many Americans that were still hurting from the attacks and certainly angered Sipser
and Schiavo with Sipser feeling frustrated that a photograph can be manipulated
and misinterpreted as easily as this.
With
the accounts given by Sipser and Schiavo, it’s clear they can’t stress enough
that it was just a case of good timing from Hoepker. The five New Yorkers were
simply having a discussion as they tried to come to terms with the events
taking place behind them. Take a second, real good look at the photo and you’ll
be able to see they are not as relaxed as they come across to be.
Source:
26-09-2012
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/culturebox/2006/09/its_me_in_that_911_photo.html
Source:
27-09-2012
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/10/opinion/10rich.html?pagewanted=all&_
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