Monday, June 25, 2012
Wallenda was smiling as he approached the end of the walk and could hear the cheers of onlookers from the Canadian side over the roar of the falls! Many of the published press photos were trying for clarity and so through filters and /or Photoshop techniques removed the swirling mists which obscured vision, but more importantly demonstrated the difficulties Nik faced on the wire. He may have proceeded quickly and methodically but the journey was fraught with danger caused by the unpredictable weather. We in the press section were shooting it in raincoats, our gear covered in plastic as the wind had sent the vapour in our direction. For much of the early walk he was obscured by mist, and was well on his way before we could even detect him, even using high power binoculars. His own visibility must have been equally challenged, and he was on a 2 inch wide wire swaying high over the Niagara Falls. Tether or not, that takes courage and skill!