steel I beam

Inside the 9/11 Museum was the location for this image. One of the columns from the South Tower sits on a pedestal surrounded by a low barrier. The simplicity of the I beam sits in stark contrast to the mass of concrete and steel rubble where it was found. The example of the loss of integrity of the steel beam is profound when thinking about the immense heat and pressure that it took to seemingly fold it like a piece of wet cardboard. The memory of this display is haunting with the relation to the loss of life that it represents. I felt I needed to record this image for myself so I would not forget this experience. As photographers I believe we have a responsibility and a calling to record and document history for others and ourselves, to not forget the sensory memory of the moment and retain the image to assist in the long term memory.