RE: devil photo controversy/I am photographer
Title
RE: devil photo controversy/I am photographer
September 11 email body
hey Mark....it is so good to hear from you! and I am glad to know that you are doing well....I, as well as many others here at the trib, had no idea that photo is yours. I must say that without your words to back it, I too found it hard to believe. But I am glad to know that it was shot by someone I know and trust to deliver truth. It is quite amazing to say the least. Thank you for sharing with me this letter and letting me know where you are. When I get home I intend to go to your web address and check out more of your stuff.
please keep in touch from time to time as it is good to know that one of my fellow RTCers is doing well.
I am still hanging in here at the Trib, almost 15 years believe it or not...seems like yesterday that I started here and found you also here. Keep up the good work.
Candace
-----Original Message-----
From: Mark D. Phillips
To: Mundy, Candace C.
Sent: 9/17/01 9:06 PM
Subject: devil photo controversy/I am photographer
Candace,
I have not been in contact with you for a long time but I find myself in the strange position of having to defend my integrity as a photographer. I shot the photograph of the World Trade Center burning that people are saying or implying was digitally manipulated to include the face of the devil.
As the photographer at the forefront of a controversy, I find it amazing that NO ONE in the media writing about it has bothered to talk to me about this image and give me the opportunity to defend my reputation. I would never "doctor" an image. The "face of the devil" occurred.
I sold this image to the AP for one time use prior to knowing it contained anything beside the twin towers burning. I transmitted this photo only minutes after it was shot.
As a photographer for three newspapers, The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse, I am amazed that anyone could call my reputation into question. I was inundated with email through my company website, http://www.stellarimages.com, to the point where I had to put up an open letter bringing everyone back to the fact that it is a photograph, not a religious or moral statement. Everyone has to look at this photograph and decide on their own what it shows.
AP is making statements about the photograph, without talking to me or defending me. Vin Alabiso has not returned my phone calls. I stand by my reputation of 25 years. I am no longer in the "news" business, starting an Internet company in 1994, but everyone I have worked with in the news industry knows the high standards I maintain.
I invite you to read my open letter on http://www.stellarimages.com or http://www.markdphillips.com and would hope that you would pass this on to other photographers you know and help me stop this. It has left a very bad taste in my mouth.
Sincerely,
Mark D. Phillips
President, StellarImages
718-858-8980 (work)
718-522-1341 (home - here now)
please keep in touch from time to time as it is good to know that one of my fellow RTCers is doing well.
I am still hanging in here at the Trib, almost 15 years believe it or not...seems like yesterday that I started here and found you also here. Keep up the good work.
Candace
-----Original Message-----
From: Mark D. Phillips
To: Mundy, Candace C.
Sent: 9/17/01 9:06 PM
Subject: devil photo controversy/I am photographer
Candace,
I have not been in contact with you for a long time but I find myself in the strange position of having to defend my integrity as a photographer. I shot the photograph of the World Trade Center burning that people are saying or implying was digitally manipulated to include the face of the devil.
As the photographer at the forefront of a controversy, I find it amazing that NO ONE in the media writing about it has bothered to talk to me about this image and give me the opportunity to defend my reputation. I would never "doctor" an image. The "face of the devil" occurred.
I sold this image to the AP for one time use prior to knowing it contained anything beside the twin towers burning. I transmitted this photo only minutes after it was shot.
As a photographer for three newspapers, The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse, I am amazed that anyone could call my reputation into question. I was inundated with email through my company website, http://www.stellarimages.com, to the point where I had to put up an open letter bringing everyone back to the fact that it is a photograph, not a religious or moral statement. Everyone has to look at this photograph and decide on their own what it shows.
AP is making statements about the photograph, without talking to me or defending me. Vin Alabiso has not returned my phone calls. I stand by my reputation of 25 years. I am no longer in the "news" business, starting an Internet company in 1994, but everyone I have worked with in the news industry knows the high standards I maintain.
I invite you to read my open letter on http://www.stellarimages.com or http://www.markdphillips.com and would hope that you would pass this on to other photographers you know and help me stop this. It has left a very bad taste in my mouth.
Sincerely,
Mark D. Phillips
President, StellarImages
718-858-8980 (work)
718-522-1341 (home - here now)
September 11 email cc
September 11 email date
Tue, 18 Sep 2001 09:30:07 -0400
September 11 email from
cmundy@tampatrib.com
September 11 email subject
RE: devil photo controversy/I am photographer
September 11 email to
mphillips@stellarimages.com
Source
born-digital
Media Type
email
Created by Author
yes
Described by Author
no
Date Entered
2001-09-18
Collection
Citation
“RE: devil photo controversy/I am photographer,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed October 27, 2026, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/3322/.