Skip to content
an image by Andrew McCarthy of a skydiver falling in front of the sun
All images courtesy of Andrew McCarthy, shared with permission

A Skydiver Appears to Fall from the Sun in a Stunning Image

After six momentous passes from a small aircraft, skydiver Gabriel C. Brown completed his mission. Brown is friends with astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy and now, also one of his collaborators. Together, the pair created a stunning image that shows the adventurous subject falling in front of the sun.

McCarthy is known for his incredible patience and planning, which has led him to capture an array of striking photos and composites detailing cosmic phenomena. This most recent piece, titled “The Fall of Icarus,” details the roiling, fiery surface of the sun with his friend’s upside-down silhouette. The pair undertook this project this past weekend in Arizona.

a detail image by Andrew McCarthy of a skydiver falling in front of the sun

Like much of his work, this image is a composite that stitches together a collection of high-resolution captures. McCarthy and Brown had to coordinate the jump and subsequent shots to reveal the latter’s free fall, footage of which they share on Instagram.

“The Fall of Icarus” is available as a limited-edition print in McCarthy’s shop, where you can find more of his work. (via PetaPixel)

Correction: This article previously misstated that there were six jumps, rather than six passes by the aircraft.

Related articles