Time passes fast. About ten years ago, I climbed the Burj Khalifa, the tallest structure in the world. It took some negotiating with the building, but eventually they liked the idea and allowed me up there with a couple of their own climbers, two truly remarkable gentlemen, Mick and Johnny. They literally showed me the ropes and kept me safe.
As Mick said, in his wonderful British accent, “Now Joe, you’ll be fine in the bucket, won’t you, mate? Because we don’t want anyone to panic in the bucket. Somebody is panicking in the bucket, we have to get him to the helicopter and it’s a bad day. You won’t panic in the bucket, right? He was right to be worried, as all personnel involved in dangerous work brought a civilian with them. We are tourists. They had absolutely no idea how the intruder would react.
When we got into the bucket, the first thing I asked Mick was to climb out of the bucket and hang onto it. He looked at me sideways and helped me out, over the railing and into the wind. He knew then, I think, he wouldn’t have to call for a helicopter. I had to go outside because the hard thing to do is take a picture of something you’re standing on or holding on to. You have to push yourself as far away from the structure as possible.
It’s fun up there. Even got lucky and grabbed Johnny when he received a sharp blast of the plane exploding in his face. Sigh, always use flash somehow.
It was fun going through the archives and looking back at the videos as well as some never-before-used photos. Our above BTS video Youtube channel Captured by notable photographer Drew Gurian, with whom I have had many wonderful adventures and memories. As I write this, that video is approaching four million views. People love photos from high places!
Let’s add more….
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