September 11, 2001, 9:41 a.m. Richard Drew stood across from the North Tower with his Associated Press camera. A figure dropped from high above. Drew pressed the shutter. The image became the Falling Man. The moment haunted him for decades. It still defines the ethics of 9/11 photography.
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: Who took the Falling Man photo?
- A: AP photographer Richard Drew took the Falling Man photo on September 11, 2001, from across the street from the North Tower.
- Q: What did Richard Drew think when he pressed the shutter?
- A: Drew later said the moment felt like a movie scene, which made him press the shutter, a realization that later haunted him for decades.
- Q: Why is the Falling Man image still controversial?
- A: The image remains a defining case in photojournalism ethics about dignity, consent, trauma and whether graphic images of victims should be published.