In the early summer of 2001 I visited New York for the first time. It's an amazing place, New York. Everywhere you look the most magnificent buildings touch the heavens it seems. One day was spent in Manhattan, which of course meant a trip to the top of the Empire State Building. The view was spectacular of course, and my hope was to come away with a brilliant photograph of the Statue of Liberty on Ellis Island from the top of the famous building. I remember being rather annoyed that those two huge buildings were blocking so much of my view! What a dumb place to put two oversized buildings, I thought.

It wasn't until later that year in December that happened to be looking through my negatives and came across the shots from my New York trip, when I found this one and only photograph I had taken of the Twin Towers. I knew nothing about them at the time, only that they were blocking my view. Without hesitation I went into the darkroom to print the image.

When I saw this photograph slowly materialize in the developing tray I suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of loss and sadness. It was discovering this photograph I had taken that made 911 more personal to me, and forever changed my feelings about my photography. It's an odd feeling knowing that I can never go back and make a photograph like this again. Because of this I cannot help but photograph places with the thought that I may never have a second chance.

To add to the dramatic experience for me; as I looked back through my trip-notes I realized I had taken this photograph on June 11, 2001. Thus the title "611".