Photographer Posts Never-Before-Seen Photographs of 9/11 Bystanders

A photographer (storiestellr) on Threads has gained significant attention for sharing a series of unpublished, chronological photographs of 9/11 bystanders. The photo series documents everyday people on the streets of New York City during the morning of September 11, 2001, capturing the immediate, raw confusion, disbelief, and shock as the events unfolded.

Instead of focusing directly on the burning buildings, the images emphasize the faces of bystanders, witnesses, and ordinary New Yorkers trying to process the tragedy in real time. Many of these archival photos reflect a surreal mix of normalcy and mounting realization, showing how individuals reacted instinctively to preserve history before the full scale of the terrorist attack was completely understood.

Along with each image, the photographer posts written captions reflecting on what was happening at that specific location and moment, detailing the human experience behind the lens.

“Twenty-five years ago, on September 11, 2001, I turned my camera away from World Trade Center and toward the bewildered crowd,” he wrote. “Starting today, I’m posting a few chronological photographs a day, with a line or two from my journal and an essay I wrote – until September 11, 2026.”

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David Bowie’s Sphinx Series Photographed by Brian Ward in 1971

The Sphinx Series (often referred to as the “Hunky Dory Sphinx” sessions) remains one of the most striking visual documentations of David Bowie’s transition from a folk-rock singer to a global superstar. Photographed by Brian Ward in 1971 at his studio on Heddon Street in London, these images captured Bowie in a state of high-fashion androgyny that would soon define the Hunky Dory era.

In 1971, Bowie was deep into the recording of Hunky Dory. He was experimenting heavily with his image, moving away from the “curly-haired mod” look of the late 1960s toward a more ethereal, gender-fluid aesthetic. Bowie appeared with long, flowing strawberry-blonde hair, wearing a floral “man-dress” designed by Michael Fish (which he also wore on the cover of the UK release of The Man Who Sold the World).

The name “Sphinx Series” comes from Bowie’s rigid, symmetrical posing, sitting on the floor with his legs tucked, hands resting on his knees, and a piercing, enigmatic gaze directed at the camera.

The session produced several iconic shots, though not all were used immediately. While Ward’s photos from these sessions were the primary source material, the final Hunky Dory cover was a hand-colored version of a specific portrait inspired by Greta Garbo, rather than the full Sphinx-style body shots. Brian Ward is also the photographer behind the famous Ziggy Stardust cover taken just a few months later on the very same street (Heddon Street) where his studio was located.

These photos are often cited by historians as the moment Bowie perfected the art of the staged persona. The Sphinx photos don’t look like a musician posing for a PR shot; they look like a classical sculpture or a silent film star, bridging the gap between rock music and high-concept performance art.

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Jean Dawnay: Dior’s Elegant English Muse

Jean Dawnay (1925–2016) was a leading British fashion model of the early 1950s, best known for her work with the House of Dior.

After beginning her career in London, Dawnay moved to Paris and became one of Christian Dior’s house models, where she was known as “Caroline.” Tall, refined, and poised, she helped present the designer’s collections and became one of the original supermodels of the postwar era.

Dawnay also modeled for other major houses and photographers, and later wrote about her experiences in the book Model Girl. Her elegant presence helped define the sophisticated image of 1950s haute couture. These elegant photos capture the refined beauty and timeless style of Jean Dawnay, one of the original supermodels of the Dior era.

Jean Dawnay in pale yellow chiffon and satin evening gown by Robert Piguet, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1950

Jean Dawnay in natural shantung coat lined in orange over delicately embroidered dress adorned with blue chiffon belt, by Christian Dior, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1950

Jean Dawnay in afternoon dress of pure white linen embroidered with scales set against a background of tulle in three tiers, by Christian Dior, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1950

Jean Dawnay in beautiful fluid evening dress of soft white crêpe, by Jeanne Lafaurie, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1950

Jean Dawnay in Dior's small wasp-waisted suit in grey wool crépe softened by the petaled hat and hint of white at the throat, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1950

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A Group of Passengers Pose for a Picture at Dulles Airport on September 11, 2001, Prior to Boarding American Airlines Flight 77

This is one of the last photographs of a National Geographic educational group taken at Washington Dulles International Airport on the morning of September 11, 2001, shortly before they boarded American Airlines Flight 77.

The group was heading to California for a National Geographic-sponsored ecology/science trip focused on the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary near Santa Barbara (sometimes described as studying the ocean or attending a related conference). It was a special opportunity for selected Washington, D.C., public-school students.

The people in the photo are generally identified left to right as: Teacher James D. Debeuneure (Ketcham Elementary), student Rodney Dickens (11), student Bernard C. Brown II (11), teacher Hilda E. Taylor (Leckie Elementary), student Asia S. Cottom (11), National Geographic Society employee J. Joseph “Joe” Ferguson, and National Geographic Society employee Ann C. Judge.

A National Geographic employee took the group photo during the boarding process at the gate. It captured the last known images of these victims (and, in the background of some versions, a figure some have noted as resembling one of the hijackers, though this is not definitively confirmed).

Flight 77 (a Boeing 757 from Dulles to Los Angeles) was hijacked by five al-Qaeda terrorists and deliberately crashed into the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m. Everyone on board (58 passengers including the five hijackers and 6 crew) and 125 people in the building died. The three 11-year-old students (for many of whom it was their first plane ride), their teacher chaperones, and the two National Geographic staff members were among the victims.

National Geographic and others continue to remember them annually. The students had been chosen for their academic promise and character; the adults were dedicated educators and staff supporting the educational mission. The photo remains a poignant record of ordinary people on an exciting trip that ended in tragedy.

30 Beautiful Photos of the World Trade Center in the 1970s

These beautiful photos capture the World Trade Center during its first full decade as a defining feature of the New York skyline.

Completed in the early 1970s, the Twin Towers quickly became symbols of modern ambition and architectural boldness. The images show the buildings from various perspectives: rising above Lower Manhattan, reflecting in the Hudson River, or standing against clear blue skies; conveying both their monumental scale and their everyday presence in the city.

These photos preserve a vivid visual record of the World Trade Center in the years when it still represented the future of New York.

A growing city, New York, 1970

Aerial views of Manhattan featuring World Trade Center under construction, 1970

The World Trade Center under construction, New York, 1970

Twin Towers under construction, New York, 1970

Twin Towers under construction, New York, January 1, 1970

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A Glimpse Into the Early Years of Dolores O’Riordan of The Cranberries

Long before the world came to know her voice, Dolores O’Riordan was a bright and gentle girl from Ballybricken, County Limerick. With music already in her heart, she carried a spirit and warmth that would one day inspire millions across the globe. These childhood memories remind us of where it all began, a small place, a loving family, and a dream that grew into something timeless.

Born on September 6, 1971, in Ballybricken, County Limerick, Ireland, Dolores was the youngest of nine children (two of whom passed away in infancy) born to Terence “Terry” and Eileen O’Riordan. Three years before Dolores was born, her father suffered a severe brain injury in a motorcycle accident that left him unable to work. Her mother became the main breadwinner, working as a school caterer to support the large family.

For the first eight years of her life, the family lived crammed into a small two-bedroom rural cottage. In the late 1970s, after an accidental house fire destroyed their home, the local rural community rallied together to help the family fund and purchase a larger house nearby.

Dolores famously sang before she could speak properly. At just five years old, her primary school principal was so taken by her voice that he sat her on a teacher's desk to sing for sixth-grade students. Raised in a devout Catholic household, she regularly sang liturgical solos and joined the church choir, developing a lifelong love for Gregorian chants and traditional Irish hymns. She also competed in traditional youth arts festivals (Slógadh), winning numerous medals.

Her father taught her the squeeze-box/accordion; she learned the tin whistle in school at age five, experimented with the spoons and bodhrán, and started classical piano at age twelve. She later taught herself guitar after receiving one for her 16th birthday.

Dolores attended An Mhodh Scoil primary school and later Laurel Hill Coláiste FCJ, an Irish-language Catholic girls’ secondary school in Limerick City. On her first day of secondary school at age 12, she famously announced to her new class, “My name is Dolores O’Riordan and I’m going to be a rock star,” before standing on a chair to sing.

She was a lively, bright, and slightly rebellious student, known for rolling up her uniform skirt while also serving as head girl. During lunch breaks, she would play the main hall's piano while classmates gathered around to listen to her sing.

By 1989 (at age 18), while completing her Leaving Certificate exams, she auditioned for a local Limerick band named The Cranberry Saw Us. She brought a demo featuring an early draft of what would become “Linger,” instantly winning over the band and setting the stage for her global fame in the 1990s.

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Some Snapshots of Laura Ingalls Wilder and Her Husband, Almanzo Wilder, in the 1940s

Laura Ingalls Wilder and Almanzo Wilder shared a remarkable 64-year marriage that spanned the late frontier era of American history into the mid-20th century. While Laura is universally famous as the author of the Little House book series, her real-life relationship with Almanzo (“Manzo”) was a true partnership built on resilience, surviving severe financial hardships, natural disasters, and physical illness.

Laura and Almanzo met in the early 1880s in De Smet, South Dakota. Almanzo was a bold homesteader known for his fine horses, famously risking his life during the “Long Winter” of 1880–1881 to haul seed wheat to starving townspeople. They began a gentle courtship, marked by Almanzo driving Laura to and from her teaching job miles away. They married on August 25, 1885, when Laura was 18 and Almanzo was 28.

The early years of their marriage were fraught with tragedy, which Laura later wrote about in the posthumously published book, The First Four Years. Both contracted diphtheria. Almanzo suffered a relapse that left him partially paralyzed for the rest of his life, walking with a cane. They welcomed their daughter, Rose Wilder Lane, in 1886, but tragically lost an unnamed infant son in 1889. A devastating house fire destroyed their home, and consecutive years of severe prairie drought forced them into deep debt.

Seeking a fresh start, Laura, Almanzo, and Rose packed their belongings into a covered wagon in 1894 and migrated south to Mansfield, Missouri. They purchased a rugged piece of land they named Rocky Ridge Farm. Through decades of manual labor, they transformed a rocky plot into a highly prosperous poultry and dairy farm. It was here, in her 60s, that Laura began writing down her childhood memories. Almanzo was her constant supporter, helping maintain the farm while Laura transitioned into a world-famous author.

During the 1940s, Laura and Almanzo lived a quiet but highly productive life at their beloved Rocky Ridge Farm in Mansfield, Missouri. Now in their 70s and 80s, the couple witnessed the height of Laura’s literary success as she completed her iconic Little House book series. Despite their advanced age, they remained deeply devoted partners, maintaining the farm and welcoming a steady stream of fans who traveled to meet the real-life pioneer heroes.

The early 1940s marked the culmination of Laura’s career as a novelist. With the editorial assistance of their daughter, Rose Wilder Lane, Laura published the final installments of her original series from Rocky Ridge Farm: The Long Winter (1940), Little Town on the Prairie (1941), and These Happy Golden Years (1943). As the books grew in popularity, the Wilders adjusted to their status as beloved public figures. In February 1940, Laura hosted an intimate birthday party in the parlor at Rocky Ridge Farm to celebrate Almanzo’s 83rd birthday.

While Almanzo stepped back from heavy manual labor due to his age and lingering effects of early-life paralysis, he remained active around the homestead and fully supported Laura’s writing career. Well-known photographs taken of the couple in 1942 and late 1948 captured them sitting side by side, portraying an enduring, 60-plus-year bond forged through frontier hardships.

The decade closed with profound change for the Wilder family. On October 23, 1949, Almanzo Wilder passed away at Rocky Ridge Farm at the age of 92. Following his death, a grieving Laura continued to live on the farm, preserving their shared history until her own passing in 1957.

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