Shanghai's skyscrapers seen from the then-unfinished Shanghai Tower
On the Roofs: Above and below —
Shanghai's skyscrapers seen from the then-unfinished Shanghai Tower
Courtesy On the Roofs
"There's no philosophy to OTR, we are just a small group of photographers, who like exploration, interesting places and some different countries," Raskalov tells CNN.
On the Roofs: Above and below —
"There's no philosophy to OTR, we are just a small group of photographers, who like exploration, interesting places and some different countries," Raskalov tells CNN.
Courtesy On the Roofs
Simply put, Raskalov (pictured) bought a camera and after that thought, "maybe I'll try to climb on rooftops."
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Simply put, Raskalov (pictured) bought a camera and after that thought, "maybe I'll try to climb on rooftops."
Courtesy On the Roofs
Their exploits allow them to see cities from entirely new perspectives
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Their exploits allow them to see cities from entirely new perspectives
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"After (Russia) we traveled because Russia for us was finished and we thought it wasn't a bad idea to try something really kind of amazing."
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"After (Russia) we traveled because Russia for us was finished and we thought it wasn't a bad idea to try something really kind of amazing."
Courtesy On the Roofs
The first time he went up, Raskalov says he was a "little" scared.
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The first time he went up, Raskalov says he was a "little" scared.
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He's since become used to the climbing, and now says it is "routine."
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He's since become used to the climbing, and now says it is "routine."
Courtesy On the Roofs
"I'm usually scared not about heights but about police. Sometimes we have to break into buildings."
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"I'm usually scared not about heights but about police. Sometimes we have to break into buildings."
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Security at some landmark buildings, including the 1,227-feet (373.9-meter) Central Plaza in Hong Kong know their faces and to bar them entry.
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Security at some landmark buildings, including the 1,227-feet (373.9-meter) Central Plaza in Hong Kong know their faces and to bar them entry.
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On the Roofs (OTR), a loose collective of photographers from Moscow, have made it their mission to shoot thrilling, often beautiful stills and video from the rooftops of the world's tallest buildings.
On the Roofs: Above and below —
On the Roofs (OTR), a loose collective of photographers from Moscow, have made it their mission to shoot thrilling, often beautiful stills and video from the rooftops of the world's tallest buildings.
Courtesy On the Roofs
OTR use no safety gear when they climb.
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OTR use no safety gear when they climb.
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Roskalov says they've climbed thousands of buildings in something like 50 countries.
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Roskalov says they've climbed thousands of buildings in something like 50 countries.
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The climbers made headlines last year when they scaled the Great Pyramid at Giza, Egypt -- and later apologized when they were accused of disrespecting the ancient monuments.
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The climbers made headlines last year when they scaled the Great Pyramid at Giza, Egypt -- and later apologized when they were accused of disrespecting the ancient monuments.
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Roskalov says there's also some skepticism surrounding the veracity of what they're doing. It's not hard to see why; some of the footage is mind-blowing.
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Roskalov says there's also some skepticism surrounding the veracity of what they're doing. It's not hard to see why; some of the footage is mind-blowing.
Courtesy On the Roofs
He says there's a lot of interest in their work, and despite being apolitical, groups like the organizers of Hong Kong's pro-democracy protest movement have contacted them.
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He says there's a lot of interest in their work, and despite being apolitical, groups like the organizers of Hong Kong's pro-democracy protest movement have contacted them.
Courtesy On the Roofs
They've been reaching the rooftops of the world's skyscrapers for the past five years, and have shot videos from Egypt to Belgium, Shanghai to South America. Pictured here is a shot from Jerusalem.
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They've been reaching the rooftops of the world's skyscrapers for the past five years, and have shot videos from Egypt to Belgium, Shanghai to South America. Pictured here is a shot from Jerusalem.
Courtesy On the Roofs
As well as going up, they also go down, trespassing onto subways and exploring the subterranean sides of the places they visit.
On the Roofs: Above and below —
As well as going up, they also go down, trespassing onto subways and exploring the subterranean sides of the places they visit.
Courtesy On the Roofs