Photo of Twin Towers from Brooklyn on 9/11 by Thomas Hoepker

A Controversial Photo on 9/11 Attack
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A Controversial Photo on 9/11 Attack
Introduction
A single photograph may make mourners in the funeral ceremony look like they are enjoying a party. This was the situation during the September 11 attack. The image that was photographed by Thomas Hoepker during the deadliest terror attack on American soil raised a lot of contentious arguments. The photo was troubling because of the way it was interpreted by viewers. The photo was not published in 2001 but was later printed in a book during the 5th anniversary of September 11 tragedy (Hoepker, 2006).
Description of the photograph
* The photograph shows a group of five people who are comfortably chatting at Brooklyn Park while behind them across the water there was a cloud of smoke and dust from the two towers that were hit by airliners hijackers.
* Many people have argued that the picture displayed a bad representation of American citizens. People argued that the photos showed American's ignorance and failure to learn a lesson from the terror attack.
* If you take a closer look at the photograph that particular interpretation seems logic and evident. However, the photographer did not have such intentions when he was taking the photograph.
Intentions of the photographer versus peoples interpretations
* Hoepker intended to show how the occurrence was looked back upon and the true devastation of the attack to people.
* American citizens were dismayed and angry when the photo was first released because the picture shows little emphasis on the tragic occurrence of September 11.
* From the photo, there are evident reasons to believe that this was the case. First, the attention of the Manhattan smoldering is drawn away by the uncommonly blue sky and water of New York. The mood of people sitting and chatting also raises a controversial debate (Jones, 2011).
* Viewers may easily misinterpret the emotions of people sitting in the park as insensible and unconcerned. It appears like they are too busy with what they are discussing to acknowledge what is happening just behind them. They are seen busy chatting and no one is looking back at Manhattan at the moment the photo was taken.
A closer look testimony from a victim in the photograph-Walter Sisper
* However, there is one person in the picture who identified himself as Walter Sisper-who appears on the far right wearing sunglasses, who explained that the photograph did not interpret their true feelings.
* Walter said that that they were truly shocked by the incidence and they were equally in disbelief like everyone was during that particular day.
* He continues to explain that the photographer who took the photo did not ask for their permission to photograph them. Besides, the photographer did not take time to ascertain what they were discussing or...