Newly released. Never before seen photos of the Sept 11 attack on the World Trade Center

Huge Hat tip to ABC News

Released this week under the Freedom of Information Act the photographer who took these photos in the aftermath of the 9-11 attacks was the only authorized aircraft above ground zero.

The photographs were obtained by ABC from the National Institute of Standards and Technology through requests under the Freedom of Information Act.

Each photo depicts a unique, alternative vantage point of the attacks. Billows of dust, smoke and falling debris are clearly captured. Until Wednesday, Feb. 10, almost all public photographs of the events were shots from the ground, many dulled from flying debris and dust in the air. Several of the new pictures are so clear, they come with a surreality commonly found in Hollywood film stills.

Several pictures show emerging clouds of gray soot exploding from the Twin Towers as they toppled to the ground before blanketing the city, burying cars, buildings and people.