October 28, 2025, is the 30th anniversary of Jay Cochrane’s Great China Skywalk high above the Yangtze River traversing Qutang Gorge, China. Jay’s photograph standing on the wire, one foot raised to his knee and one arm raised in salute, smiling, with Qutang Gorge beneath him, is a testament to his ability and showmanship.
Humans in space. Most can name the first astronaut or the first man on the moon. How many of us remember the name of the ships that carried them to space? We remember Friendship-7 and “The Eagle has landed” on the moon. For me, eight other names were burned into my memory because of one of my photographs. The ship was Challenger and the names were Michael J. Smith, Francis R. “Dick” Scobee, Ronald E. McNair, Ellison S. Onizuka, Gregory B. Jarvis, Judith A. Resnik, and Christa McAuliffe.
EVERY PICTURE HAS A STORY collection by Mark D Phillips
On September 11, 2001, during the attack on the World Trade Center, I took a photograph that has become known as Satan in the Smoke. The photograph has haunted me ever since the first moment I saw it. That image became my main memory of the day.
As a witness to the devastation that occurred not only to my city but to thousands of families, each 911 I sit and listen to every name read during the memorial service at the national 911 Memorial.
On the 19th anniversary, I couldn’t find any of the networks covering the ceremony. Finally, I found a live stream from the museum and listened to every name once more. It lasted till almost noon. But I felt I had to do more. I said to my wife, “I’ve got to go to New York and see the Tribute in Light.”