Dean's World

So, it appears that the Grand Canyon Skywalk is real. After Peggy's investigation last year, it appears that the company making this thing, being two years late, finally managed to get a structure up.

Michael Demmons was also kind enough to email me this link about it, within minutes of Peggy sending her update to me.

Then my antannae began quivering: this was all well and good, but I examined both links carefully, and the supporting links. This thing is supposedly the 8th wonder of the World. An amazing and truly unique construction. So where the photographs?

I'm not alleging a conspiracy here. I'm certain the structure exists now, too many say they've seen it. But this has to be simply the worst, most incompetent job of marketing and press relations that I have ever seen in my life. To whit: where are the clear and impressive photos of the marvelous Skywalk?

The lack of any photo evidence--other than "artist's conceptions"--along with the apparently huge construction delays was what had me wondering what the heck was going on in the first place.

I understand that Arizona is a dark, primitive land steeped in backwardness and barbarity, and that the natives there fear the evil juju of a decent camera. Still, you'd think some Christian missionary somewhere would have managed to smuggle one past the guards in order to snap a few clear shots from a few different angles using a decent lens.

Even journalist Elizabeth Mitchell, who claims to have been there, has no photographs at this writing on her site.

This is driving me batty. How can you have story after story after story about this amazing new structure, unique in world history and a huge tourist attraction, and not have any decent goddamned photos of the thing?

Is modern-day journalism really this bad?

Finally with digging I found this pathetically bad photo, and this story with somewhat better images. Which, after much looking, turns out to be *the best* photography of this 8th wonder of the world I have yet to see in the last two years.

It's this that led me to wonder whether the whole thing was a business boondoggle/hoax in the first place--something some underfunded and/or unrealistic entrepreneur dreamed up but never actually produced, like the Moeller Sky Car.

When I first raised the question, the Grand Canyon Skywalk home page had no actual photographic evidence at all. Even now, it's mostly dominated by artist's depictions. Good lord. Who is in charge of this project? Where are the spectacular, awe-inspiring photos of this amazing and unique construction?

I repeat: I no longer doubt that it exists. But I wonder (A) who is the incompetent person on charge of press relations on this, and (B) why do Arizona reporters apparently not know how to use cameras?

I actually think this is a pretty cool construction project. I'm just dazzled at the fact that apparently no one on the entire internet--including the people who own this structure!--can supply a clear shot of this breathtaking marvel that's much better than your average smudgy picture of Bigfoot.

*Update*: Okay, here's a video. Which isn't exactly impressive, but hey, at least it's clearly Buzz Aldrin and he's walking on something. Note to Hualapai tribe: I can probably find you a cheap photographer who would give you shots that look like something more than an ex-astronaut walking around on a bridge with a microphone in his hand. Give me a call.

*Update 2*: Here is the very best photo I have managed to find so far, in all its glory and majesty:

Wow. Just... wow.

*Update 3*: Okay, this video is sort of cool:

Finally. That actually does look like something it would be cool to walk on. Not exactly like the artist's depictions, but nothing ever is.

(Thanks Sandi.)