Shannon Stapleton is a photojournalist that always strives to display the raw emotion of people in each and every photograph he takes.  Stapleton’s photos taken during the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on the World Trade Center’s display more raw emotion than any of his previous assignments.  The piece that represents the actions following the attacks such as the heroic first responders or the business men and women caught in the national disaster while at work would be “Reuters” by Shannon Stapleton.  With this photograph Stapleton is able to bring the fear, destruction and hope into one image that represents the American people as a whole specifically when disaster strikes.  “Reuters” by Shannon Stapleton emphasizes that as Americans, people will come together to save each other, place the well-being of others in front of themselves and work towards a common goal in times of distress.  The attacks on September 11th, 2001 against the World Trade Center was an opportunity for citizens to come together and help those injured.  The attacks created an inseparable bond among those present during and after the crash and subsequent building collapse.

Shannon Stapleton’s photo is taken in the direct aftermath of the terror attacks on September 11th, 2001.  It is a great outlet to show Stapleton’s skill as a photographer as well as the ability he has to show the true emotion and good will of Americans through photography.  Looking at the photograph the first noticeable element is the six different men making their way through the ash and rubble.  The group of six consist of five in better condition than the sixth who the other five are carrying to emergency services.  The more severely injured man appears to be unconscious, the situation forces the five men to use an ordinary office chair as a stretcher to move the man which shows the severity of the situation.  As evident through the death toll and building damage of the attacks, the events forced the use of any means necessary to help those injured.  The severity of the situation forced many regulations and preconceived limits of emergency personnel to be thrown out for the survival and well-being of those injured in the attacks.

Shannon Stapleton uses the technique of selective focus that emphasizes the men in the photo which is the main focus of the piece.  To do this he utilizes the dull and dreary background that is primarily made up of the ash from the building collapse to block out the less important and moving aspects of the scene.  The method takes advantage of the “natural” canvas the ash provides.  In addition to the ashes use as a canvas for the main focus of the five men carrying out the sixth man, the dreary grey tone of the ash helps to bring out the colors of the clothing and vibrancy in color of the first responders faces.  One crucial element that can easily be clouded by the widespread presence of destruction is that of pure physical demand.  The events of September 11th, 2001 forced many souls into a physically exhausting and demanding situation that most had never came anywhere close to experiencing.  In the way Stapleton captures the photo, the ash background brings to the viewer the extreme physical burden and toll placed on the first responders and good Samaritans helping to bring the injured man to help and safety.  The techniques Stapleton uses attracts the viewers to the focal point of the photo.  

The personnel present in the photograph help bring out the focus of the piece as well as bring out the importance of first responders and emergency service providers.  The marking and badges placed on their clothing and equipment are crucial for this photograph.  They show how much help emergency services help during tragic times as well as help the viewer differentiate between an actual first responder or emergency service provider and an ordinary citizen that stepped in to help the injured.  In times of tragedy and loss, the emergency personnel and their specific badges and equipment are critical when getting help to those affected as well as letting those affected know that they are not alone and that help is coming.  One of the key aspects of emergency responders is almost the effect of the badge, in stressful situations the clothing and presence of the emergency workers helps to comfort those affected.

America was founded on the principle of brotherhood and unity as a community, group and as a nation.  It is times of distress that those very principles are put to their greatest test, but also shows their greatest success and effect.  From the start of the United States all the way back to July 4th, 1776 there have been men and women willing to make sacrifices for themselves, others and for their country.  American citizens have long believed that in order to improve in life and as a whole nation sacrifices must be made, and not just giving up some income or a comfortable place to sleep, but some must be willing to die to save other Americans and to move forward as a better nation.  This principle of generosity and sacrifice is woven into the fabric of the terror attacks on September 11th, 2001.  Thousands of Americans died on that day and thousands more would have died had it not been for the many brave men and women willing to risk their life for fellow Americans.  Through photography of the day’s events Shannon Stapleton captured an image that represents the American spirit.

Stapleton uses various skills and techniques to create a unique interpretation of the terror attacks that occurred on September 11th, 2001.  From the building ash from the collpse being used as a canvas to the mix of emergency responders and normal civilians, Shannon Stapleton is able to bring forth the emotion and good will exhibited by the thousands affected by the terror attacks and subsequent building collapses.  Through times of distress and destruction Americans as a whole put aside the cares of self in place of the well-being and safety of those hurt and affected by the destruction.  Stapleton placed this convention at the focus of “Reuters” and he used the medium of an image to show how disaster can bring out the best of communities and a country as a whole.
