Forums - Photographer's moment of madness ?

Forums

Author

Message

rick

Administrators

Forum posts: 109

Age: 33

#1849 2008-05-23 14:36 GMT

how big of a risk will you take to take a picture?

Photographer's moment of madness as he leaps across 8ft gap in the Grand Canyon

Quote
This is the heart-stopping moment a daring photographer leapt between two rocky outcrops over the Grand Canyon - with drop of nearly a mile beneath him.

A crowd of onlookers gasped in horror as the man - who was wearing flimsy flip-flops - risked his life to capture a stunning shot of the Arizona sunset.

Canyon leap

Deadly risk: The unidentified tourist jumps a chasm at the Grand Canyon

Minutes earlier, the unknown daredevil had been casually sunbathing on a rock column.

He had already made the leap once to get to the smaller rock - although that act of daring went unwitnessed.

Once there, he made the most of it by downing a six-pack of beer while relaxing on the outcrop for several hours.

However, as sunset approached, a crowd of tourists gathered and watched as the man took a perfect shot of the canyon.

Canyon leap

Fearless: The photographer sets up his tripod on a perilous pinnacle of rock

To their astonishment, he then simply tucked the camera and tripod under his arm and leapt back across the 8ft gap.

He grasped hold of the opposing rock face with just one hand and momentarily lost his grip before climbing to safety.

For those who find their heart skipping a beat just looking at these photographs, it may of some comfort to know that the two rocks are actually joined together lower down.

Canyon leap

One, two, three, jump! The man takes his life in his hands as he makes the leap

However, there is still a life-threatening drop of around 20ft on the near, 'safer' side of the rocks. On the far side, the drop is about 0.6miles.

The photos were taken by amateur Dutch photographer Hans van de Vorst, 47, who visited the spot on holiday.

When he arrived at the scene the man, dressed in jeans, t-shirt and flip-flops, was lounging on the rock column around 15ft from the edge of the canyon.

Mr van de Vorst, a marketing consultant from Veenendaal in central Holland, watched as the man set up his tripod and captured the last minutes of the sunset, before
casually finishing his beer, packing up his equipment and making the leap.

'When we arrived he was just taking in the scenery and people were discussing how he managed to get on there in the first place,' he said.

'Nobody even bothered with the sunset - everyone's eyes were on this man and how he was going to get off the rock.

'He looked really relaxed and casually stood up before jumping across the gap.
'There was complete silence as he packed his things up and then a few gasps when he jumped.

'He didn't grab the rock properly the first time and slipped back about 50cm (20 inches) before clinging onto it. Even then he didn't look fazed.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1021134/
Pictured-Photographers-moment-madness-leaps-8ft-gap-Grand-Canyon.html

bizzybuzzybee

Photographers

Forum posts: 40

Age: 41

#1850 2008-05-23 22:11 GMT

I have taken a few risks in my time for the "perfect shot" but nothing like this. Bravo. If he pulls the stunt of he's a legend, if he falls to his death he's and idiot.

rick

Administrators

Forum posts: 109

Age: 33

#1851 2008-05-24 14:56 GMT

yeah it depends how much in love are u with ur career

davles

Photographers

Forum posts: 98

Age:

#1852 2008-05-24 15:16 GMT

Not quite the full picture here, you are only seeing what the photographer wants you to see.What is left out of the frame is a ledge about 9-12 feet below,you have been fooled like many others into believing that there is a vertical drop down to the canyon floor.Still extremely dangerous and foolish nonetheless.Do not believe everything you read or see in the newspapers or the internet.

Les.