One Step At a Time

Every Picture Tells A Story

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. Phillips EVERY 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.

The Boys of Summer come to New England

Every Picture Tells A Story

Shawn Babineau joined the Worcester Bravehearts of the FCBL this year after a sensational sophomore season with Springfield College, where he was an ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division III All-Region honoree. ©Mark D Phillips NO RESALES OR REUSE WITHOUT PERMISSION/NO
ARCHIVING ©Mark D. Phillips It is baseball in its purest form with athletes who are playing for the love of the game, with the slim possibility of advancing to a Major League Baseball career.

Most people think of the Cape Cod League when they think of the place to see the hottest up-and-coming players on their way to Major League Baseball careers.

The same week that Vandy won their championship, the Bravehearts management took a road trip to Cleveland to witness Aaron Civale, the first Braveheart to make his Major League Baseball debut, earn a win for the Indians. Called up to make a spot start, the 24-year-old pitched six shutout innings, allowing two hits and striking out six, which included all three batters in the first inning.

Mitzvah-Palooza

Every Picture Tells A Story

Tom Petty plays in the desert room for Elizabeth Brooks, daughter of David Brooks, $10 million Bat Mitzvah at the Rainbow Room in New York City on Nov. 26, 2005. ©Mark D. Phillips New York City is known for its extravagant lifestyle. Mitzvah-Palooza was so over the top that it’s in a category all its own.

I was hired by the producer of the staging to photograph a party at the Rainbow Room atop Rockefeller Center on Nov 26, 2005, that he assured me “was going to knock my socks off.”

I had no idea. It was the party to end all parties for the Bat Mitzhah of Elizabeth Brooks, daughter of David Brooks. The $10 million dollar extravaganza was a prelude to the end of his lifestyle.