Tribute in Light: 9/11/2020

Every Picture Has a Story, History

Jay Cochrane, The Prince of the Air, completes The Great China Skywalk over the Yangtze River in Qutang Gorge, China, on October 28, 1995. The skywalk was and is the greatest ever made spanning half a mile between the canyon walls and 1,350 feet above the river. ©Mark D Phillips NO RESALES OR REUSE WITHOUT PERMISSION/NO ARCHIVING ©Mark D. PhillipsEVERY 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.”

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One Step At a Time

Every Picture Has a Story, History

Jay Cochrane, The Prince of the Air, completes The Great China Skywalk over the Yangtze River in Qutang Gorge, China, on October 28, 1995. The skywalk was and is the greatest ever made spanning half a mile between the canyon walls and 1,350 feet above the river. ©Mark D Phillips NO RESALES OR REUSE WITHOUT PERMISSION/NO ARCHIVING ©Mark D. PhillipsEVERY PICTURE HAS A STORY collection by Mark D Phillips

Jay Cochrane’s skywalk 25 years ago was an engineering marvel and an early success in using digital technology from the heart of China. This is the story of how a highwire and a mac laptop brought Qutang Gorge to America.

In 53 minutes, Jay skywalked 2,098 feet, with the Yangtze River over 1,300 feet below. Seeing Jay balanced on a wire, suspended between the magnificent cliffs of Qutang Gorge, was one of the most thrilling, spectacular, and terrifying events I have ever witnessed.

Jay needed images and information about his skywalk to reach the world. In 1995, there were no smartphones. We had just started using Macintosh laptops and Nikon film scanners to transmit images. But there was no high speed Internet. These were the days of 28,800 modems over copper lines that at times would drop calls in the middle of sending the image. If that happened, you started over again.

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