Image of the Week, Part II: Tim Sharkey’s September 11 Tribute

As anyone who knows him can attest, high-performance powerboat photographer Tim Sharkey wears his heart on his sleeve. Creative types tend to be that way, and as you can see from this Image of the Week commemorating the heroism—and the horror—on the anniversary of a day in 2001 that every American remembers, Sharkey definitely falls into that category.

"Never forget"—that's the message of this composite image by photographer Tim Sharkey.

“Never forget”—that’s the message of this composite image by photographer Tim Sharkey.

A pure heart such as Sharkey’s worn on a sleeve is a thing of beauty, and one that needs no explanation. This two-piece composite digital photograph, however, does take a bit of explaining, so we went directly to the passionate and creative photographer to get a few answers.

When did you take these shots?

“The background image was originally shot late afternoon June 15, 2013 after the National Power Boat Association Poker Run. I captured the Miss GEICO image in August in Long Beach, New York, during the Offshore Powerboat Association Race.”

What inspired you to combine the two?

“I wanted to be able to create ‘something more’ with the content, something people would want to look at and use as a fundraiser for the Wounded Warriors Project.”

How did you figure out the right way to blend the shots into one breathtaking and moving image?

“I spent some time looking for the right composition at the Liberty State Park “Empty Sky” September 11 Memorial. What I first noticed when I was trying to line up the Freedom Tower in the center of the two Stainless Steel Walls was that the tower didn’t line up down the middle. In fact, I think these walls were actually built to line up with the original footprint of the World Trade Center Towers just to the right of Freedom Tower. I wanted to add another component that represents the United States in the offshore racing community. What better team than the Miss Geico with its proudly displayed American flag with huge letters “USA” on the side of the race boat?”

The words, “Never forget” have become the motto for the events—horrible and heroic—of September 11. Thanks to images like this one from Tim Sharkey, we never will.