this post was submitted on 15 Nov 2025
76 points (96.3% liked)

Photography

1128 readers
1 users here now

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

After six momentous leaps 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.

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)

https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2025/11/andrew-mccarthy-skydiver-sun-image/

https://petapixel.com/2025/11/14/sun-skydiver-photo-andrew-mccarthy/

AtiKG2LGDmd9qs4.jpg

top 6 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] Snowcano@startrek.website 12 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Fall of Icarus would make a great album title, and the photo could be the cover art!

[–] Bonus@piefed.social 8 points 3 months ago (1 children)

See also Danny Boyle's movie, Sunshine.

[–] PunnyName@lemmy.world 6 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

A surprisingly good film at a time when it seemed very likely to be bad.

[–] Bonus@piefed.social 5 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

It does famously go off the rails after the 2nd act but it is still amazing.

Tarantino on Sunshine
https://youtu.be/mJiCIX7ZmkE

[–] fartographer@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago

Shit. Space kaiju.

[–] ButteryMonkey@piefed.social 2 points 3 months ago

Kinda surprised it only took 6 jumps to get this.