Freefall

What it means

Freefall is the time between exiting the plane and deploying the parachute. From a typical altitude of around 4,000 meters it lasts roughly 45 to 60 seconds, with jumpers reaching terminal velocity of about 200 km/h in a belly-to-earth position, faster in head-down positions.

It is the most intense part of any skydive, and the heart of most skydiving videos: the exit, the formations, the faces distorted by wind, the earth far below. Everything else, the plane ride and the canopy flight, frames this short, loud and unforgettable minute.

How it works in practice

Skydivers film freefall with a helmet-mounted camera, usually on a camera helmet designed with snag-free mounts. Professional camera flyers fly near the jumpers to capture them from outside, see camera flyer.

Shoot at 60 fps or higher for smooth motion and some room to slow down, and start recording in the plane before the exit, since the climb to altitude gives useful setup shots.

Wide fields of view work well, because jumpers move around the camera and can easily leave a narrow frame. Lock exposure or use auto with care, since the bright sky and dark ground swap places as jumpers turn.

What to watch out for

Safety first: camera flying adds snag hazards and distraction. Many dropzones require a minimum number of jumps before a jumper may wear a camera, often around 200, and the rule exists for good reason.

Wind noise covers almost all audio in freefall. Expect to replace it with music or keep only the plane and canopy sounds.

Freefall footage looks repetitive when viewed raw: a minute of the same view. Cut to the exit, the key formations and the deployment, and drop the rest. Watch the horizon too, since a tilted camera during freefall can disorient viewers, and some motion blur in fast rotations is unavoidable.