When The Faces of Ground Zero Giant Polaroids Came To Santa Fe
September 8, 2026 | Source: Monroe Gallery of Photography
As the 25th anniversary of 9/11 nears, Joe McNally will be sharing the story behind his powerful portraits of 272 lives changed by 9/11. The Faces of Ground Zero, which are life-sized, giant Polaroids, was created by photographer Joe McNally in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy. Working out of a special studio housing the camera, a highly specialized instrument, he photographed 272 people whose lives intersected in profound fashion with 9/11.
Firefighters, police officers, medical personnel, iron workers, volunteers, families—all came to the camera to have their story told in pictures and their own words. The Giant Polaroids, framed, stand roughly 9 feet tall and 4 feet wide. They toured the US and internationally, became a book, and assisted in raising approximately $2 million for the 9/11 relief efforts.
The project is now on view, installed permanently in the 9/11 Memorial Museum
On September 10 at 5pm EDT Joe McNally will be at Adorama in a special appearance to discuss the creation of this project, and the emotional story of how these pictures were made. Reserve a spot here, watch on YouTube here.
In 2014, Monroe Gallery was honored to present a selection of The Faces of Ground Zero Giant Polaroids in a retrospective exhibition of Joe McNally's career.
