No one could climb through the cab and onto the boom. This crane was my best mate's favourite, who reported back some time after my last climb, that the slewing unit level now had a padlock on it. It made the crane so much more awesome to climb and again, was probably a contributing factor to my desire to keep climbing cranes. From a distance, the crane looked incredible. The next time I returned to climb this crane (both times to just under the slewing unit), it was covered in brightly coloured lights. The colours, the peace and the awesome atmosphere that fills my view of the world when people are asleep. I think this is where my love for night time photography really began. I was taken here by my best mate, who'd been here once before. I wasn't really sure what to expect but it turned out to be rather liberating. This Cottesloe crane was my introduction to crane climbing.

Regardless of whether society appears to condone suicide more than crane climbing, this crane we dubbed 'Darth Vader' based on the photo above, is now gone forever from this site.

Now I understand what they're like and I feel so safe! Certainly a lot safer than bungee jumping or sky diving, where I'm not in control. With cranes, I always thought they were dangerous until I climbed them. To be honest, I have Muslims on my mind when I think of this, especially as I'm not Muslim but I read the Quran because I like to understand other people's viewpoints. The lack of education and understanding creates fear and purports the 'other' as dangerous. I always say that cranes is like a religion. I have no idea if anyone else can relate to this, let alone understand. When we get high, we feel so free and the sense of peace is intense. Climbing cranes is one of the major things in our lives that helps us not think about suicide or how fkd up the world is. A lot of times when we climb cranes, we're in a very low place and we need an escape. My best mate reminded me why it meant so much to the both of us. I wasn't sure why I felt such a strong sense of loss.

Obviously, it didn't belong to me and it was just a metal structure. A construction worker recently told me this one had just been pulled out on Saturday (8th May). It's funny how you can get attached to a crane.

Backyard cranes in the sky