by Mito Habe-Evans

For those of us not in New York, Washington, D.C., or Shanksville, Pa., our memories of Sept. 11 are shaped largely by the photos of that day and its aftermath. Some of the most arresting images were collected by Life, the visual witness to much of the world's most important events of the 20th century. Many others were taken and distributed by the photo agencies Magnum and VII, both of which had members in New York that day.

Life has collected 911 photos of moments great and small that are displayed on its website.

Slideshow

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This is a slide show gallery of images curated by LIFE from the September 11 attacks.

Credit: Courtesy of LIFE

Magnum Photos, the legendary cooperative formed by the likes of Robert Capa and Henri Cartier-Bresson, was holding its monthly meeting in New York when the planes hit the World Trade Center towers. Eleven of its members immediately took to the streets, capturing the surreal devastation as it unfolded, through the days and weeks that followed. A few of these pictures are collected here; many others can be found at Slate.com.

Slideshow

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This is a slideshow gallery of photos taken by Magnum photographers on September 11, 2001.

Credit: Courtesy of Magnum Photos

The photo agency VII was formed on Sept. 9, 2001, just two days before the attacks. Soon after, founding members Ron Haviv, Antonin Kratochvil and Christopher Morris arrived in New York to document the aftermath. See more of their photos from the aftermath on the VII website.

  • A man covers his mouth to keep out the acrid air.
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    A man covers his mouth to keep out the acrid air.
    Christopher Morris/VII/Photos Courtesy of VII
  • View of ground zero from Broadway.
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    View of ground zero from Broadway.
    Antonin Kratochvil/VII/Photos Courtesy of VII
  • Volunteer rescue workers break down and cry after leaving the World Trade Center site.
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    Volunteer rescue workers break down and cry after leaving the World Trade Center site.
    Ron Haviv/VII/Photos Courtesy of VII
  • Onlookers watch the clearing work at the remains of the World Trade Center.
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    Onlookers watch the clearing work at the remains of the World Trade Center.
    Christopher Morris/VII/Photos Courtesy of VII
  • An emotional outburst at ground zero.
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    An emotional outburst at ground zero.
    Antonin Kratochvil/VII/Photos Courtesy of VII
  • A view of Manhattan from the Staten Island ferry after the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. September 2001.
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    A view of Manhattan from the Staten Island ferry after the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. September 2001.
    Ron Haviv/VII/Photos Courtesy of VII
  • New York City firemen cry at the funeral of New York Fire Department chaplain Mychal Judge, who died administering last rites to a fallen firefighter.
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    New York City firemen cry at the funeral of New York Fire Department chaplain Mychal Judge, who died administering last rites to a fallen firefighter.
    Ron Haviv/VII/Photos Courtesy of VII
  • Posters showing missing persons on the days following the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.
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    Posters showing missing persons on the days following the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.
    Christopher Morris/VII/Photos Courtesy of VII
  • A boy sells postcards near ground zero.
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    A boy sells postcards near ground zero.
    Antonin Kratochvil/VII/Photos Courtesy of VII

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Tags: Magnum, VII, Life, 9/11