Turkey's last man on wire for over half a century

DENIZLI, TURKEY - JUNE 27: Turkey's last wire walker 67-year-old Ozdemir Turan, one of the very last Turkish hire-wire artists trying to continue the art of high-wire walking, keeps tradition alive at his "canbazhane (circus)" currently constructed at a parking lot of a mall for the Ramadan celebrations in Denizli western district of Turkey on June 27, 2017. Born in 1950 in Istanbul's Laleli district, Turan started to work with magician Farabi from Thessaloniki in Sehzadebasi, Fatih at the age of 12. When they were on a tour in the southwestern city of Mugla, Turan was inspired by high-wire artists. He spent days and nights to master the skill and when he returned he asked to work with senior high-wire walkers. Although he was studying dentistry at the time, Turan's passion and excitement never left him, even today. “I have completed 51 years in this profession so far, including my years of apprenticeship. But I will not stop. I want to be involved with the profession until the end of my life. This art has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage list and I am the only professional representative of this profession in Turkey,” Turan said. (Footage by Fatih Dogan/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)