I thought I was crazy…

Top of the needle - Empire State Building - click on the image to see if a bit bigger (skip the intro page)
In 2000, I climbed to the top of the Empire State Building (click on this link for a larger image and hit SKIP on the intro page) It was an AWESOME experience.
The kicker is: I didn’t have any harness… they simply didn’t bother to give me one and I didn’t need one for the most part, as I was climbing up INSIDE the antenna to get to the top (very similar to the video below)…
BUT, when I got to the top – I should of had one as I was out in the open, on a 3-foot wide crow’s nest… again w/ no harness… leaning on my stomach, with my shoes hooked in on the gap near the needle – looking straight down to see this image. Here I am on the crow’s nest in January of 2000 in the image below.
When people hear this story… they call me crazy. The real scary part about the walk up – was that there were 14,000,000 watts of radio/tv waves coming from the top of the Empire State Building – you’re not supposed to stand up too long: or you may never have kids… My pager was going off non-stop (this was the year 2000 remember pagers?) And then it was windy – and I’m not exaggerating when I tell you that the tower sways when it’s windy… just to add to the fun.
But if you look at the video below, it’s clear that I’ve been outdone – REALLY outdone:










That’s some crazy stuff.
Reply
defiantly out done!
Reply
Ok, so there were two of them, and one of you. That puts you in third place.
Reply
Frightening to watch!
Reply
Wow, awesome video – I’m now more curious how they get back down! I bet it’s even harder since they have to get around wide metal plates that were easy to go over.
Reply
I have done a 200m TV mast for a news pic… But I’m way too soft for that!!
Reply
I might have nightmares, lol! Will Apple repair this iPad after my sweaty palms short it out as I type??
Reply
Wow. I’m a little nauseous now. Better him than me!
Reply
Holy goodness, I am just shivering watching the video. I got over my fear of heights but this is just ridiculous. And part of it without a harness too??
Reply
For some reason I’m running to the bathroom! Mercy.
Reply
WOW! Yes Vincent – you have been OUTDONE! But, clearly….not many people at all in this world can say they climbed the Empire State Building…w/ out a harness to say the least! Way to go Vincent. Hope to see ya again soon sometime..
Reply
A friend of mine showed me this video this morning, its getting around pretty quick i suppose.
Reply
Jesus, just watching this makes me nauseas!
Reply
Great post but the guy who made the video has asked for it to be removed….
why because the person who shot the video does not want to lose his job and employer doesn’t want to lose any contracts.
So please help them out and remove the video.
Reply
hi vincent saw the video link on boingboing yesterday I have sincere respect for you
Reply
Oh yes, you were crazy !
Reply
WOW! just watching this made me squirm, EEK! no thanks…
Reply
I think you were out-done in 1974 already – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEU7lrtehDs
Reply
Edwin Herdman Reply:
September 17th, 2010 at 1:58 am
@Kay, I immediately thought of Man On Wire too.
Also the guys who worked on high steel in New York (especially, like the Empire State Building) and the Hoover Dam construction – there’s some crazy footage of that too, like the guy riding a beam, holding on with just one hand.
Reply
Pretty cool… i really enjoy “high altitude shootings” !
Reply
My hands started sweating while watching that. Sheesh!
Reply
Wow, that scared the living….out of me. I had trouble climbing down a cliff face at the Mer De Glace, and that was only 100′.
Hat’s off to anyone who can do this.
Reply
Seriously insane. I remember that picture from way back when and thinking the photographer must have major cajones to go HIGHER than the works. Have these guys in the video ever been tempted to don parachutes and jump off after a hard day’s work?
Reply
My anatomy is retracting already just watching!!!
Reply
Okay, when I first read about you I thought you were crazy. Then I watch the video of the guy who climbed the gided tower, it made me sick. You should post a warning for people with acrophobia… You guys are CRAZY!
Reply
Makes my knees weak and palms sweaty
Reply
holy f’ing f. First time I’ve ever broken into a sweat watching a video. I don’t think the antenna was working too well when those guys got up there because their stainless steel chromium plated balls were causing too much interference to the transmissions!!!
Reply
[...] you complain again about your job again, be happy you’re not the dude above and read this guy’s firsthand account about climbing the top of the Empire State Building’s needle/antenn… for a paycheck. Now hows that make you feel [...]
Wow… I feel nauseous now… I think I just discovered with this video that I was reallsy scared of heights….
Reply
That´s why it´s important to always wear a helmet
Reply
I broke a sweat on that one. Unreal. “Here’s the tricky part”. LOL.
Reply
I can’t finish watching it!!
Reply
[...] Made me almost puke at the end of the clip. This clip has gone viral 1 week ago so I’d be surprised if you haven’t seen it yet. I’ll post it anyway, enjoy and try not to faint. If you’re afraid of heights you should not view this clip. (via) [...]
heh.. just saw this 3 days ago
Reply
Man that was so scary! I had to stop myself from leaving the computer several times. How do they do it! I really got scared when he would so casually let go and hold on one with one hand. One wrong move and…
Reply
Gosh..somethin’ like this I don’t even wanna experience in a nightmare! my fear of heights is further distributing to that…
Reply
McNally – Empire State – Youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEAKQFddTLI
Changing a light bulb on top of the Empire State Building
Reply
Holy crap, after watching most of this I sat back and realized my mouse was covered in sweat and my heart was all tingly and warm. I hope those guys don’t have families.
Reply
I just could watch the begging, later I stop watched. Ii is too scary for me to watch it. I just can’t watch that. sorry
Reply
[...] alto de todo Nueva York). De acá para abajo hay unos 440 metros. Y el muchacho que sacó la foto (Vincent Laforet) está… sin arnés. Así como si [...]
Thats nuts!
Reply
that’s pretty incredible!!
Reply
WOW…Love that!! I am just amazed! Also, thank you for constantly sharing your info and keeping us all up to date. I just love your website and blog page. It’s endless with great information. You are such an inspiration and so kind to share your knowledge with the world. I have been a big fan for a few years and I always look forward to check your blog page to see what’s the next new thing/story. thanks.
Reply
Am I the only one that threw up a little when they watched that video? That is something else.
As for your photo Vincent, it is spectacular.
Reply
As a pro adventure photographer who partly specializes in rock climbing and has climbed on some of the biggest cliffs in the world that video of the guys climbing up the tower made even me a bit queasy. Sweaty palms and the whole nine yards. The worst part is just knowing how much that tower sways in the wind and the serious lack of decent anchor points….
Reply
Wow – I got the weirdest ache right behind my scrotum watching this – like my nuts were trying to crawl back into my body. Absolutely off-the-scale mental.
Reply
I watched the video and then read all of the comments, and my heart was still racing. They climbed that tower for a paycheck.. I wouldn’t climb it for a lottery win.
Reply
i actually don’t have a thing about heights. honestly speaking i want to try this job or just experience it
Sell Luxury Watches
Reply
Uh oh, seems the video was removed. By the way, you are crazy lol. No way would I ever try that, even with a harness!
Reply
Vincent, simple question 24 or 25 fps? If you shoot in 24fps you need to convert to 25fps for EU market but if you shoot in 25fps you need to convert back to 24fps for US market. So which do you use?
Reply
Vincent Laforet Reply:
October 29th, 2010 at 5:48 am
@Steve Sekby, depends on your FINAL output always – i.e. if it’s going to be broadcast/shows at 24 shoot at 24, vice versa. Keep in mind that most US Cinema projectors will ONLY project at 24. v
Reply
Wow, awesome video – I’m now more curious how they get back down! I bet it’s even harder since they have to get around wide metal plates that were easy to go over.
Reply
Gosh..somethin’ like this I don’t even wanna experience in a nightmare! my fear of heights is further distributing to that…
Reply
[...] Update: The photographer Vincent Laforet tells the story of taking this picture.) [...]
[...] These guys went a little bit higher – here’s the full story. [...]
Gaptek Update Bram Stoker’s Dracula has been known to be the first important book written about vampires, do believe this is true? State your decision and explain. Approx. 1 page….
Bram Stoker’s Dracula has been known to be the first important book written about vampires, do believe this is true? State your decision and explain. Approx. 1 page….
Hi, real appreciation for the great article and the information, it is really goodand helpful.Thankyou
Reply
I would PAY for the privilege of doing this. How did you do it? How can I do it? This photo has been my computer wallpaper for years…
Reply
[...] handful of people each year are granted access to”/”When people hear this story—they call me crazy“/”It’s good to take a break and look around while you rest”/”It [...]
[...] The photographer, Vincent Laforet, tells the story of climbing up to the top to snap this [...]
[...] Aquí el testimonio del fotógrafo. [...]
[...] handful of people each year are granted access to”/”When people hear this story—they call me crazy“/”It’s good to take a break and look around while you rest”/”It [...]
Hi Vincent,
First of all thanks for this amazing blog and the effort to maintain it updated and full with so many information, I have learned a LOT with it.
the Empire State video is not working. Is any other place to watch it?
thanks for your time.
Reply
Vincent Laforet Reply:
February 18th, 2013 at 7:10 am
hmmm.. will look into it once I’m back in the US.
Reply