Reddit mentions of Aftermath: Unseen 9/11 Photos by a New York City Cop

wwwwwThis is a real photo taken by a 1 of the 4 FEMA photographers allowed at Ground Zero during the direct aftermath (all other photopraphers/videographers were prohibited). More specifically, I believe that FEMA photographer was Kurt Sonnenfeld. Mr. Sonnenfeld is currently fighting extradition from Argentina and is wanted for questioning in Colorado in relation to the 'suicide' of his ex-wife in 2002. The most recent interview from Argentina (that I could find) was this TV news 10th anniversary 9/11 special report (10min/English with Spanish subtitles).

As to what this particular photo actually means (or implies), look a bit closer. There are signs of melting at the cut on the beam. As to who&what made the cuts, no removal teams appeared to have penetrated that tangled toxic mess yet. That said, I'll just leave you with an interesting collection of Ground Zero / FEMA video(9min31sec) by Mr. Sonnenfeld (notice the signature thermite flare at the 6:00 mark).

Pass it on...

edit: ZOOM

edit2: The TVTechnology article reported the Ground Zero photographers to be Andrea Booher & Michael Rieger and the videographers to be Kurt Sonnenfeld & Jim Chestnutt. Can not find any evidence directly linking the photo to EITHER Sonnenfeld OR the others, though other WTC photos & video stills have been posted on WordPress by his new Argentinian wife. Also found a much better and more recent TV interview at Vimeo (13min).

edit3: Photographer found. Sam Hollenshead apparently won a Pulitzer for this photo...and I win a Booby for believing it was FEMA videographer Kurt Sonnenfeld...plus a Lark for believing that only FEMA photographers had access. Apparently other photographers like Joel Meyerowitz and a police officer named John Botte also gained Ground Zero access and published identically titled "Aftermath" scrapbooks. That said, let the foo fly and PhotoShop debates begin.

edit4: I can find no evidence on the Pulitzer website that Sam Hollenshead won a Pulitzer for this photo.

edit5: Sam Hollenshead was queried 2 weeks ago as to the date and circumstances of the photo in question. Result: no answer.

edit6: Pulitzer website was queried 1 week ago as to whether Sam Hollenshead won a Pulitzer prize for the photo in question. Result: no answer.

edit7: Kurt Sonnenfeld's collection of GroundZero/FEMA video showing thermate/thermite (6min mark) burning metal in Ground Zero ruins has since been removed after the link was posted above 28 days ago.