Archive · 17 Nov 2025
Skydiver and Sun Align in Viral 'Fall of Icarus' Photo
Imagine a photographer who loves taking pictures of the Sun and a skydiver who loves jumping out of planes.
They decided to do something super tricky: make the skydiver fall right in front of the bright Sun!
It took a lot of planning to get the timing perfect.
The skydiver jumped from a plane, and the photographer aimed their camera from far away.
For a very short moment, the skydiver looked like a dark shape against the glowing Sun.
People were amazed by the picture, calling it 'The Fall of Icarus.'
This photographer has also taken other amazing pictures of the Sun, like one with the International Space Station flying across it.
The new picture became really popular online because it looks so unreal and took incredible skill to capture.
Astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy and skydiver Gabriel Brown collaborated on a viral photo titled 'The Fall of Icarus'.
The image captures Brown in free fall, perfectly aligned with the Sun's surface.
The difficult shot required extensive planning and precise timing, taken in an Arizona desert.
McCarthy previously went viral for photographing the International Space Station crossing the Sun.
The photograph has garnered significant online attention, eliciting awe and admiration from viewers.
- Who
- Astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy and musician/skydiver Gabriel Brown
- What
- Captured a viral photograph titled 'The Fall of Icarus', showing Brown in free fall precisely aligned with the Sun.
- When
- Saturday, November 8.
- Where
- An Arizona desert.
- Why
- To create a unique, precisely planned photographic masterpiece combining extreme sports and astrophotography.
Viewpoints on the photograph
Artistic Interpretation
Execution of the shot
Viewpoints on the photograph
The photograph required an 'absolutely preposterous' amount of planning and was potentially the first image of its kind ever captured.
Artistic Interpretation
The shot was achieved with precise timing and attention to detail, with the photographer expressing surprise at its successful execution on the first attempt.
Impact on viewers
Viewpoints on the photograph
The photo evoked disbelief, awe, and emotional responses, with some viewers purchasing prints immediately.
Artistic Interpretation
Viewers described the photo as a 'phenomenal' and 'quiet masterpiece' that stopped them in their tracks and stirred deep emotion.
- Photographer
- Andrew McCarthy
- Skydiver
- Gabriel Brown
- Photo Title
- The Fall of Icarus
- Location
- Arizona desert
- Date Taken
- Saturday, November 8
- Skydiver Altitude
- 3,500 ft (1,070 m)
- Distance from Camera
- 8,000 ft (2,440 m)
Sources
Watch stunning shot of skydiver falling in front of the Sun — The Fall of Icarus
Astrophotographer Brings Greek Myth ‘Fall Of Icarus’ Alive With Shot Of Skydiver Falling In Front Of Sun
Did a man just skydive through the Sun? The story of the now-viral stunning photo
