Misc. How do I change a really high light bulb?

[Office_Shredder]

TL;DR Summary

I have a really high bulb I don't know how to change

Your guys really helped me out with my last bulb problem so I thought I'd try again. There's a bulb over a staircase that is
- a recessed floodlight
- about 18 feet above the stairs directly beneath it (it's over the bottom of the stairs, and the staircase is exposed to the next floor)
About 3 feet horizontally from a floor that's only eight feet below it

I think since it's recessed, I can't use one of those claw bulb changers. Since I can't actually reach the bulb I don't think I can use a suction cup on a pole either? Someone could stand on a stepladder and reach out over the gap to try to release it but that seems exceedingly dangerous to me.

There's no space to just put up a ladder and go up there even.

Any ideas are welcome. I attached some pictures of the staircase, hopefully it's enough to make the situation clear.

I'll make sure the next bulb that goes in there lasts twenty years...

 

[Averagesupernova]

While a lot of folks don't have access to the tools I do, I would try an extension ladder from the stairs below. If you can find a device that grips that bulb, try to mount it on the end of a pole and with two people you should be able to get it. One person below and another standing at the railing to help guide.

 

[hutchphd]

If I understand the geometry, an extension ladder at a slightly "shallow" pitch up to the crown molding (and braced against an opposing stair) should put you just about where you need to be. Somebody at the rail could provide moral support and hand stuff over as needed. Might mar the wall a bit. Clean (unpowdered) latex gloves give grip.
A good LED bulb should outlive us all...

 

[Tom.G]

Not low cost but lower than a broken arm.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0141K282M/?tag=pfamazon01-20
scroll down to "Frequently bought together"

Above found with:
https://www.google.com/search?&q=pole+to+replace+high+light+bulb

 

[berkeman]

Replace it the same way it was installed -- go through the attic.

 

[2milehi]

Not low cost but lower than a broken arm.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0141K282M/?tag=pfamazon01-20
scroll down to "Frequently bought together"

Above found with:
https://www.google.com/search?&q=pole+to+replace+high+light+bulb

Those poles (with the suction cup) also extend.

 

[Office_Shredder]

I went with the suction cup and extension pole. I didn't actually need a long pole, because I could reach over the bannister to do everything. Somehow the first time I looked at one of them, it didn't register in my mind that they had a little string thing to release the suction cup (or perhaps the one I was looking at didn't).

Thanks everyone! This covers almost every bulb in my house now, so at most there will be one more thread in this series