Skydiving photography?

Anyone on here do it? I'm doing my License in the new year, and I really want to get into the photoside of things aswell.

Done a skydive in July and paid for a photo guy to jump with me, and loved it. Think he was using a 5d but had something going into his mouth to trigger the camera off, should of asked but never did! Where can you get them?


I can't imagine it being the easiest job either, falling at 120+mph and trying to get photos...

You can get a few different types of shutter releases. Bite switch, button you hit with tongue, or blow switch. I used a blow switch as a buddy had a bite switch and he used to fire off a burst every time he opened his chute because of opening shock. With the blow switch it is basically a tube you blow into that closes the circuit. With it set up like that each puff is a frame or constant pressure allows multi frames if your camera is set up for that.

My advise to you is to get alot more experience jumping before you even try to do camera jumps. You need to be extremely proficient in your body flight skills to be able to put yourself in the positions you need to get the photos properly. Your relative work skills are how you will frame, compose, and position yourself. Zooming in our out is done by you flying your body (in a controlled manor) in closer or further away.

On the safety part it is important to have audible altimeter to "remind" you it is time to open your parachute. It might sound funny but you can get sidetracked in getting the best camera angles and shots you forget the ground is coming really fast. Also having a camera helmet on can limit your field of view so your ability to see all around while under canopy flight is limited to. You will also need to be VERY comfortable with emergency procedures and how you will be able to handle malfunctions.

Cheers for the reply, Its not something i'm going to jump straight into (excuse the pun). But once i've done my license, around April time it's something i'm seriously considering!

Do you have any of your photos?

Sorry for hijacking but here's a few of me doing a tandem in South Africa in the late 80s.

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Radders wrote in post #9063125
Cheers for the reply, Its not something i'm going to jump straight into (excuse the pun). But once i've done my license, around April time it's something i'm seriously considering!

Do you have any of your photos?

I have been grounded for a few years due to a knee injury (motorcycle accident) and now dont have the "extra"money or time as I have 2 small kids. I hope in the future I will be able to get back into it. All of my jump shooting was on film so I will need to scan some stuff to show you.

Radders: do you jump already ?

as not sure here, (as i used to jump in Australia) but you need over 100 jumps before you are allowed to wear a camera

if you mean by "get your licence" you mean your very first skydive licence i would advise strongly forgetting about a camera for a long while

as mentioned, you need to be very proficient in your emergency drills and this only comes with experience.

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radders
you may be better served to search at www.dropzone.com for camera flyer questions.

Don't rush into anything, just because USPA says 100 jumps you can be a coach does not mean throw a camera helmet on and go chasing people through the sky. you need to be rock colid in you EP's, body and canopy flight. as a former TM I will say that I was strict about jump numbers and skills before allowing people to film tandems with me. But sadly i was one of the few and there are plenty of guys out there that will allow you to chase them with just a few jumps.

read everything you can, talk to the most senior of camera flyers at BIG drop zones and be safe!
Joe