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The tale of the Twin Towers

How one man’s passion led to a 50,000-strong collection of images of the World Trade Center.

Twin Towers: The View from New Jersey photogallery
Simon Leventhal, a dentist from New Jersey, began photographing the Twin Towers shortly after they were constructed in 1970 [Simon Leventhal]
Published On 5 Sep 2011
Twin Towers: The View from New Jersey photogallery
What others saw as an example of "ugly" architecture, he saw as potentially magical [Simon Leventhal]
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Twin Towers: The View from New Jersey photogallery
"On a rainy day the Towers could be dull; when the light was right they were magic," Simon explains [Simon Leventhal]
Twin Towers: The View from New Jersey photogallery
Over the course of 30 years, Simon took approximately 50,000 images of the Towers [Simon Leventhal]
Twin Towers: The View from New Jersey photogallery
"Atmospherics, local air traffic, time of year, time of day, rain or shine all contribute to the final product," he explains [Simon Leventhal]
Twin Towers: The View from New Jersey photogallery
Simon would drive down to the New Jersey shoreline several times a week, if time allowed, to take pictures of the Towers [Simon Leventhal]
Twin Towers: The View from New Jersey photogallery
"The skyline of New York is organic and ever-changing. Buildings are removed and new construction continues unabated. Each new structure changes the reflection of the scene and the overall appearance," Simon explains [Simon Leventhal]
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Twin Towers: The View from New Jersey photogallery
His pictures captured the sunsets, sunrises, ice flows, ocean liners, people at leisure, seagulls, buildings going up, and even the Statue of Liberty - all set against the back drop of the Twin Towers [Simon Leventhal]
Twin Towers: The View from New Jersey photogallery
Simon never intended for the collection to be presented to an audience, but since their demise he has shared them in the hope that people will not forget how iconic they were [Simon Leventhal]
Twin Towers: The View from New Jersey photogallery
Since the Towers fell, Simon has continued to document the changing skyline. He says: "It is neither better nor worse, just different" [Simon Leventhal]