Behind the Curtain; taking a photo from a 21-story building

I've never been a fan of heights but there have been a few occasions in my career where I've had to conquer my fears in order to obtain a unique photo angle.

Days after my college graduation decades ago, I went to work for a chain of weekly newspapers in rural Illinois and I was assigned to photograph the demolition of an obsolete grain elevator. Seeing that I could obtain an interesting view from above, I asked the owner of the grain company if I could go to the top of the adjacent modern concrete silos.

A college-aged employee took me to the top, and we crossed a narrow metal catwalk between two sets of towering silos nearest the demolition work.

Last summer, while on assignment with the Daily Herald, where I've worked since 1990, I was assigned to photograph the High Ropes for Habitat fundraiser, during which participants rappelled down the side of a 21-story Schaumburg building to benefit Habitat for Humanity.

After getting a few decent photos from the nearby parking garage where most of the spectators were, I decided that a more interesting angle would be from the top of the tall building.

I obtained permission to go to the top, was fitted with a body harness for a tether line, and a safety tether for my camera as well. When I arrived on the rooftop, the harness was connected to the tether.

My favorite of several photos from that morning was of Elgin resident Pilar Garcia, who had been a past recipient of Habitat for Humanity's services. I photographed her as she got ready for her descent with the help of Schaumburg Fire Department Captain John Schneidwind.

Ironically, I would have preferred to lean out a little further from the edge of the structure, but my tether was stretched as far as it would go, and I didn't want to push my luck.