Stunning Imagery & Cameraflyer Talent at Burj Khalifa Base Jump

Photography Tips

Imagine if you were hired to chase two world champion base jumpers off the tallest building in the world. And the plan involved first flying away from the skyscraper and then going into a head-down orientation which increases speed and difficulty dramatically – something that had never been done before. This is a reality for Noah Bahnson who has quickly become a leading aerial photographer on the edge of what is currently possible in human flight:

In this latest project, professional French jumpers and Soul Flyer team members Fred Fugen and Vince Reffet broke world records by flying around the Burj Khalifa first in wingsuits and then in a separate jump performed freefly base (an activity they invented) carving head-down at staggering speeds with camera-flyer Noah Bahnson giving chase. The flight was commissioned by Skydive Dubai.

Via Facebook, Noah Bahnson, (Click to See Full Size)

They are not the first to base jump from the tower, but they had a special platform built to add an extra 500 feet, enabling them to break the world record.

Via Facebook, Vince Reffet, (Click to See Full Size)

The Burj has become a global landmark, towering above the rest of the world at 829.8 meters (2,722 feet). It took six years, from 2004 to 2010, but it now proudly stands as an incomparable piece of architecture. Literally nothing else even comes close.

Via Facebook, Skydive Dubai, (Click to See Full Size)

The above video is also nicely in 4K quality, which is a new development in video capture and production. Bahnson doesn’t just use a GoPro camcorder strapped to his head (although Fugen and Reffet do); he also has a Canon DSLR on his helmet with an accessory where he can focus and activate the shutter with his teeth.

Via Facebook, Noah Bahnson, (Click to See Full Size)

Via Facebook, Noah Bahnson, (Click to See Full Size)

“We don’t like to scare ourselves. That’s not the goal. People think that you BASE jump because you’re crazy, you like to get scared… But we like to fly, you know? We like to have fun, so if you are scared, if you scare yourself, there is no fun.” – Fred Fugen

If you tuned in over the last few weeks, Noah Bahnson was also the photographer for the first ever & highly popular fashion shoot with a base jumper model which you can see here, you can also get a peek at his equipment setup at the end of the article.