Nik Wallenda: Niagara Falls Event

I was hired to photograph Nik Wallenda's historic highwire tightrope walks across the Grand Canyon in 2013 and Niagara Falls in 2012.  This page highlights the Niagara Falls event.

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Since visiting the natural wonder as a young child, one of Nik Wallenda’s lifelong aspirations was to complete a skywalk across Niagara Falls. On June 15, 2012 his dream became a reality.

Below (1):  An emotional Nik Wallenda humbly takes a knee before making a victorious fist pump toward Canadian crowds waiting to receive him.

Event day at Niagara Falls arrived with fanfare and anticipation on both sides of the border.  As isolated and controlled that things would be the following year at the Grand Canyon, the Niagara Falls walk exhibited all the fervency of a true international event.

Below (1):  Several hours before Nik took to the cable crowds by the hundreds of thousands began filling in on both sides of the Niagara River.

Below (3): Television network vehicles line sidewalks around the Canadian Visitor Center while crews prepare for the big event.

Below (1):  The cable pulling rig and cable yoke plate are anchored securely to bedrock at 65,000 pounds tension just a hundred feet from the gorge's edge within the restriction zone.

Below (5):  Crews and family enjoying pre-event activities.

Below (1):  A birds-eye-view from high above the cable with the American Falls and Goat Island crowds in the background less than two hours before showtime.

Below (1):  View from the cable.

Below (1):  Nik on the cable just a few steps off the scissor lift where he had been interviewing with ABC.

Below (1):  Nik at the midway point of his journey.

Below (1):  Nik ‘climbing’ the Canadian side of the cable.

Below (1):  Nik blows a kiss to his wife, Erendira before his signature scramble off of the cable.

Below (1):  Emergency first-responder, Justine, gives a thumbs-up as he lowers the bucket once Nik was safely on the scissor lift.

My directives from ABC for once Nik had landed on Canadian soil were to remain inconspicuous—capture what I could of the post-event happenings but keep my distance.

Below (3):  The first order of business after crossing, Nik presents his papers to Canadian customs officials on the receiving platform.

Below (1):  Crowds of fans and onlookers eagerly await Nik's descent from the platform.

Below (1):  Canadian officials take interest in Nik's balancing pole.

Below (2):  Nik and family exit the platform.

Below (1):  Nik receives the key to the City of Niagara Falls, Canada.

 

Below (1):  Nik takes time with a special fan.

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