It's a bit like having a child; I now spend nights worrying about the most ridiculous events that could happen to my daughter.
Why do our brains like to torture us like this?
I was glad to see they used safety equipment, especially since they were working with non-professionals, but I was annoyed that they didn't mention it in the article and played it down in preference of the breathless self-affirming schtick. Safety protocols matter, because they're what makes the difference between everyone going home after having done something difficult and had a life affirming experience, and going home with PTSD or not going home at all.
The photographer standing on the corner of the building with no safety so he can take a selfie? Fuck him. Doing that on your own or with similarly risk-tolerant friends? OK, enjoy your dangerous hobby, I can appreciate your enjoyment of it as a spectator and relate indirectly to high-risk situations I am comfortable with. Involving an audience of people (on the rooftop) while demonstrating such a disregard for safety? Horrible passive-aggressive behavior that burdens everyone else with significant mental and legal risk, not to mention his employer.
If this took place in a professional context (eg of a commercial film/photo shoot) that would be an instant firing offense of the never-hire-this-person-again variety. If you're going to do dangerous stuff in a group of mixed ability, you have an ethical and professional obligation to adhere to and demonstrate the highest safety standards. If you want an entourage to witness how badass you are (as opposed to leveraging that through your creative work) then you're a walking liability.
Edit: I see Von Wong arrived here at the discussion. I'm going to leave the above up unedited, not to be personally insulting but because it expresses my sincere annoyance about this issue.
Yeah. It's like the old joke: what are every true redneck's last words?
"Hey y'all, watch this!"
Von, I'd be curious to know how you reached that level of comfort? Is it just the way you are, do you have training or experience in stunt work, something else?
If he falls or drops any equipment, he puts the people below him at risk of fatal injury. This isn't just a question of showing off for an audience, it's a question of the safety of bystanders.
As others have said, the level of safety demonstrated here appears negligently insufficient to match the risk to the photographic subjects and to bystanders below, machismo aside.
Darwin awards, making fun of people who have died. Never really got how that became cool.
More often than not a combination of drug addiction, poverty and mental illness that lead to there demise.
It sucks but its the same aspect of our mind that thinks up the amazing things like skyscrapers and cameras that we're then able to build. Imagination. :)
For contrast look up stories of the woman with a damaged amygdala who literally has no fear whatsoever. She has to have people around her to keep her from doing dumb things like pick up poisonous snakes.