David Blaine is a controversial magician who has turned performance artist with acts involving extreme privation, enacted in public places. More popular in NYC than anywhere else, thousands have come to visit him as he lives submerged in a sphere of water for seven days in the plaza at Lincoln Center. For the finale on Monday night, he will perform before a live TV audience, bound in chains underwater while holding his breath for more than nine minutes as he breaks free (hopefully).
All this week, the crowds around him were lining up to pass close to him, with many trying to communicate with him, holding up pictures and cards, and touching the glass of his tank. He seemed to be very happy for the company and the attention, interacting in a mime-like way with his public. Here are more photos, a link to his website, which has many articles and photos, and a video:
22 comments:
Thank you for the video. It makes me feel in New York with you
oh my gosh!!! You actually photographed it - I was just about to email you regarding this crazy stunt - I saw on tv his hands are really damaged and skin was peeling off so they used petroleum jelly and gloves to keep it from getting worst. You took such a nice picture - you should submit it to the news to use - you can be on CNN =)
New York must be such a crazy fun place to live!!!
I knew you'd take a shot of this. Thank Heavens for that too! He's been on TV a lot recently because of this stunt. I thought he'd reached his peak with the ice-box did he did. Then comes this Houdini/Copperfield follow-up. Could you get close enough to take a shot of his face?
Nice photo - but I am totally freaked out by this guy. I have such a horror of drowning i can't stand to even look at a photo of him in there!
Great stunt, I hope he doesn't get the abuse that got during his last stunt in London.
What a gorgeous picture - it looks like he's free-floating in a bubble of water...Very cool!!
OK - I'm so immature - I kept thinking, but how does he go to the bathroom? I guess he gets some time outs...
haha, this guy is in the news a lot these days...
It doesn't count unless he pees in the water.
It's a stunt more than performance art, probably. But a very photogenic stunt!
Well, he sure has chosen an interesting way to make a living.
We will post an update tonight, after he emerges, one way or another, out of the water. Seriously doubt that the doctors and others around will allow him to accidently kill himself or permanently damage himself. He is not in very good shape as of now, the water aspect has been very hard on him, more than he anticipated, it appears. He has not eaten solid food for more than 7 days so the only elimination is taken care of by catheter, he is kept hydrated by intravenous (the pants are hiding all this) and sometimes was wearing a helmet to protect his head from the water pressure, and to sleep, which apparently is giving him huge headaches, but the muscle atrophy is the most painful. Apparently the weightlessness for so long is extremely arduous. Too bad he doesn't apply all this determination in some more productive way, but maybe the display of discipline is helpful too...
I heard about him too! This is unbelievable. The picture is great. I want to see more if you get a chance.
David Blaine did not make it to the nine minutes he planned to hold his breath for, at the end of seven days submerged, he started blacking out at seven minutes and they had to pull him out right away. It seemed that the chains where heavier or more awkward than expected and he had to hold them up to keep his balance, and that caused him to use more oxygen in his blood and probably then lost the optimum conditions required to succeed. He was pulled out and seemed in some kind of partly unconcious state, and then seemed to go into convulsions, but came to pretty quickly and spoke, and cried, it was very emotional. I'm sure they will have more information as to his status and ongoing health soon, but his blogsite is shut down due to heavy volume. Hopefully he takes it easy for awhile now...
He was on the news this morning here!! Hope he recovers soon!
It's a stunning picture.
I really like David, though he's such an extreme character he always seems like the nice guy next door.
Would be interesting to know what actually makes people do this for a living... it's so dangerous!
Anyway, I hope he's better soon. Let's see what his next breathtaking "show" will be!
I just heard on the radio on the way home today that he got into trouble when trying to break the world record- amazing that you had this on your site!
I enjoy your photos- Thank you.
I hope his liver is not severely damaged - yikes
Thanks for those updates ;)
Great photo, I watched it last night. It's too bad he didn't break the record, but health and safety is more important.
Cool that you got to see him in that.
WOW! nice pic!
Hmm I love the idea behind this website, very unique.
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Nice idea with this site its better than most of the rubbish I come across.
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