AS Bermuda and the rest of the world remember the tragic attack on the United States by terrorists nearly a year ago, a reinsurance firm has paid tribute to that memory with a series of poignant images taken in New York City soon after the events.

The black and white images, now on exhibit in the lobby of the ACE Building, are the work of internationally-acclaimed photographer Peter Harron.

The scenes - depicting the pain and suffering of those in the New York area - were not taken as a means of recording the horrific events of September 11, but to share the story behind the suffering, he said.

In that light, visitors to New York, A Memorial might notice the 63 photographs have been hung to document, rather than exhibit their content.

"It was not my idea just to photograph the ruins - those horrific scenes which were all over the television set and in newspapers," said Mr. Harron. "The show is hung differently (from most exhibits). It's done in a documentary style. I was concentrating mostly on an impromptu memorial.

"It's not so much about the photographs as it is about the story behind them. The destruction of the place was overwhelming, but as a photographer, you just do it, you put your life on hold and capture the message.

"One thing I found (with people who have seen my photographs) is that everyone has a connection. They come to me with a story. I find that extraordinary."

Mr. Harron, a Bermudian who makes his home in Essex, Connecticut, has made a successful career as an actor, director, documentary film-maker and photographer. He worked with Marlon Brando on the Academy Award-nominated documentary Raoni, turning to photography after eye surgery halted his career as a film-maker.

Included among his projects are Greg Allman's album, Laid Back - which won a Grammy for best album cover - and his silver gelatin prints of Tall Ships 2000, which were exhibited in the ACE Building two years ago.

Mr. Harron said he mentioned his New York photographs - some of which are on display as part of the well-received Here Is New York exhibit relating to the tragedy and now travelling around the world - to Carol Foster, senior vice-president, administration, at ACE Limited, after which it was decided to use them as part of a memorial.

"Carol asked what I'd been doing and said that, as they'd been involved as an insurer for the World Trade Centre, they would like to have a memorial to give support to survivors and sympathy to those lost. I am so very happy to do this exhibition. I think this is an important time".

ACE Ltd. chairman and CEO Brian Duperreault added: "Many of us in the ACE offices around the world lost personal friends and professional colleagues in the horrific and despicable act of terrorism that took place on September 11, 2001.

"By hosting this exhibition we want to reinforce our support for the survivors and show our sympathy for those who lost family and friends by keeping their memory alive."

The Twin Towers were designed by architect Minoris Yamasaki and built in New York between 1966 and 1977. Constructed of steel frames, glass and concrete stairs on steel trust joints, they stood 110 storeys high until they were demolished by terrorists last September 11.

It was while the towers were under construction that they were first photographed by Mr. Harron. And it was this tie, he explained, that led him to return to New York after the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre - which housed the towers - last year.

"I was doing documentary films at that time, an anti-Vietnam War film and was travelling around New York on location. I took photographs of the World Trade Centre mainly because I was fascinated with what they said they were doing, building the largest building in the world - again.

"It was the same after September 11. My impulse was to go back. I was not alone. Many were trying to cope with their feelings of fear, and vulnerability, and sadness. There was no way one could not weep with the city.

"The whole experience was emotionally wrenching for me to work with. To photograph those scenes was one of the saddest days of my life and now that we're coming back to the anniversary, I'm becoming very sad again. I get emotional about the situation. It's not easy. (In times of sorrow) people always ask, 'What can we do?' I think we should ask, 'Why?' and never forget this horrific tragedy."

To shoot the scenes, Mr. Harron said he used 35-millimetre film, "shot with only available light so as not to disturb people lost in their thoughts, perhaps praying for the missing. The silver gelatin prints are unmanipulated. They have been left unframed in the spirit of the temporary memorials . . . I hope in some small way that these photographs will help restore equilibrium; perhaps help us see more clearly and continue to ask, 'Why'?"

q New York, A Memorial is open to the public through the month of September in the lobby of the ACE Building on Woodbourne Avenue. Admission is free.