From: Metro
On the edge: The daredevil takes pictures of the sunset before leaping
this really the moment a photographer makes a daredevil jump – or is it a hoax?
The dramatic photographs were published this week but now rumours are circulating on the internet that it could be an elaborate stunt.
At first it seems the man, wearing a white t-shirt, jeans and flip-flops, risks his life to take a picture of the sunset. Photographer Hans van de Vorst, who took the photos of another photographer at the Grand Canyon, Arizona, told of gasps from other tourists as the man jumped between two rocks – with a one kilometre drop below.
But according to one website, Hemmy.net, it is no leap of faith.
The truth it claims is that the photos were taken at a clever angle which fools viewers into thinking it is a big drop.
In Van de Horst’s version of events, he says minutes earlier the man had been casually sunbathing on a rock column – and even downed a six-pack of beer.
A crowd of onlookers then gasped as he tucked his camera and tripod under his arm and leapt across the 2.4m wide (8ft) gap – grasping hold of the opposing rock face with just one hand.
Van de Horst, a marketing consultant, from Veenendaal in Holland, says he watched in disbelief as the man took a picture of the Arizona sunset before making the leap.
‘When we arrived he was just taking in the scenery and people were discussing how he managed to get on there in the first place,’ he said.
‘Nobody even bothered with the sunset – everyone’s eyes were on this man and how he was going to get off the rock.
‘He looked really relaxed and casually stood up before jumping across the gap.
‘There was complete silence as he packed his things up and then a few gasps when he jumped. ‘He didn’t grab the rock properly the first time and slipped back about half a metre before clinging on to it. Even then he didn’t look fazed.’
Mr Van de Vorst, 47, said the drop was more than one kilometre.
Pinnacle: where he placed his tripod
