Keith Meehan Creative: Photo Shoot

Day 7—Nik Wallenda's Grand Canyon Highwire Tightrope Walk: Event Day & Networks

This post contains some image highlights from event day for Nik Wallenda's tightrope walk across the Grand Canyon. The images I took this day follow a six-day construction photo shoot where I chronicled the cable installation for the project engineers and installers. Posts for the previous six days of shooting can be viewed at my Construction Marketing Website HERE.

Above: Performing one of his signature moves, Nik takes a knee before scrambling across the final 50 feet of cable.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Media presence had been increasing every day of the cable installation. By day seven, event day, it was a literal media frenzy. NBC, Discovery Channel and affiliates ruled the roost and had everything at the site in complete lockdown. I was relegated to a single position approximately 150 feet from the canyon's edge on the mainland side.

Below (2): NBC's Natalie Morales and Willie Geist prepare to give the play-by-play account of Nik's Grand Canyon tightrope walk during 'Skywire Live with Nik Wallenda' while a Discovery Channel celebrity provides live pre-event coverage.

Below (2): Nik suits-up then gives a wave to the crowd before heading to the helicopter.

Below (3): Nik gives a final thumbs-up to the crowd and waves at family and friends as he is lifted away to the island.

Below (2): Nik making his historic trek across the canyon, 1250 feet above the Little Colorado River riverbed. Wind gusts upwards of 48 miles per hour were recorded just prior to Nik stepping onto the cable.

Below (4): After the successful trek, Nik and his father, Terry, spent some time with the linemen and their families in between press conferences.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Nik spent the Friday morning before his walk at the site in live interviews with Natalie Morales and Willie Geist on Today.

Below (2): Nik Wallenda talks with head engineer for the cable installation, Peter Catchpole, just prior to his Today show interview with Natalie Morales and Willie Geist.