The Making of "The Lure of the Abyss"

How the winning photo of the "Stairs" contest was made

By Dan R in Photo Contests on Jul 25, 2022

"The Lure of the Abyss"

First, my sincere thanks to everyone who participated and voted in the "Stairs" contest. I have been following the monthly Pentax Forums contests for several years now and am always impressed by the high quality of the entries, let alone the finalists, which are invariably superb. So it is indeed gratifying to see my photograph voted the top award this month.

The subject of the photo is a large non-functional structure that was intended to attract tourists and visitors to a newly built urban development on Manhattan's far west side. Currently known as "The Vessel," the 16 story structure consists of 154 interconnected staircases entirely surrounding a central void. Designed by English architect Thomas Heatherwick, The Vessel has since its inception generated a good deal of controversy involving various issues, aesthetic and otherwise. Sadly, in the months following its opening a series of people chose it as the location and means of their very public suicides by jumping off. After four such incidents it was closed to visitors while the management considers how to proceed.