Heroes on the Roof
On Saturday, we had the privilege of photographing a very special charity abseil from the roof of Coventry Cathedral.
This was certainly not an everyday photography assignment. Rather than photographing the action safely from ground level, we joined the participants on the cathedral roof, giving us a close-up view of the nerves, determination and bravery involved before they took that all-important step over the edge.
Throughout the day, a steady stream of courageous participants took on the challenge. Some arrived at the edge with huge smiles and plenty of confidence, while others looked as though they might suddenly remember an urgent appointment somewhere considerably closer to ground level!
Every one of them, however, found the courage to lean backwards, trust the ropes and begin their descent down the side of this magnificent building.
It would be easy simply to describe them as brave, but many were doing something they were genuinely terrified of in order to raise money and help others. Facing one of your greatest fears for the betterment of someone else is more than brave — it is heroic.
Being on the roof allowed us to capture those final moments before each participant disappeared over the edge: the nervous smiles, deep breaths, determined expressions and occasional slightly worried glance downwards. It also gave us an even greater appreciation of just how much courage was required!
A huge thank you must go to Coventry Cathedral for organising such a memorable event and giving so many people the opportunity to challenge themselves while raising money for worthwhile causes.
We would also like to praise the excellent safety team, who looked after everyone with professionalism, patience and plenty of good humour. They calmly explained the process, checked every piece of equipment and offered constant reassurance and encouragement. Their expertise helped even the most nervous participants feel as safe and confident as possible before stepping backwards into thin air.
Congratulations to everyone who took part. You faced your fears, supported others and gave us a fantastic day of photographs.
You were all heroes — although probably very relieved heroes once your feet finally touched the ground!
All of the images from the day can be viewed by clicking the button below. As a thank-you to those that bought prints from us on site, we've added a complimentary copy to our Facebook page for you to tag and share