World Trade Center Site 2008 - Shot With The legendary Panasonic DVX 100
In 2008, I returned to Ground Zero for the first time since the September 11th attacks, documenting the site with my Panasonic DVX100. This footage captures a solemn moment in the rebuilding process—a period when the physical void still dominated the landscape.
Filming at night created a stark, haunting atmosphere. The construction site where the Twin Towers once stood appeared as a vast emptiness, illuminated only by scattered work lights and the glow of surrounding buildings. The DVX100's cinematic quality preserved the raw emotion of this place caught between destruction and renewal.
Seven years after the attacks, the site remained primarily a construction zone. Steel beams, heavy equipment, and foundation work were visible, marking the early stages of what would eventually become the memorial and new World Trade Center complex. The scale of the emptiness was striking—a physical representation of the immense loss experienced that September morning.
The footage also documents several memorial murals erected around the perimeter. These artistic tributes honored first responders who rushed into the burning towers, office workers who helped colleagues escape, and the nearly 3,000 lives lost that day. Each painting and memorial told stories of heroism, sacrifice, and lives cut short.
This visual record preserves an important transitional moment in the site's history—after the debris had been cleared but before the memorial and new buildings took shape. It captures not just the physical space but the emotional weight still present in this hallowed ground, as New York and the nation continued the long process of healing while honoring those lost.
Equipment: Panasonic DVX 100 | Edited with Adobe Premiere Pro.
#worldtradecenter #groundzero #panasonicdvx100 #september11th
https://hilltopvideos.com/
/ hilltopvid
Hilltop Productions was founded in 2013 by Matt Lolich. His years of experience include live sports production, video production in government and the private sector, and the film world. some past clients have included ESPN, Trout Unlimited, and Berkshire Hathaway. His award winning short films have been screened at numerous festivals around the country.