“This is how I remember New York City during the first summer after the September 11 attacks. Workers were removing the last of the debris from the collapsed Twin Towers. I was 19 years old and had just moved to Manhattan from my family’s small farm on Long Island. The city felt both immense and fragile.”

“I photographed that summer because I wanted to show New York City healing, both in celebration and unity, and with some scars. I walked through the five boroughs with my camera. When someone made eye contact with me, I asked if I could make a portrait of them. At first, I assumed people would respond with caution. I was a stranger. The city was recovering from an event that shook its sense of security. Yet, most people said yes and looked straight into my camera lens. I am grateful they chose to trust me.” - Lucas Foglia