A SERIES of breathtaking photographs from the edge of space have showcased Earth’s horizon at 70,000 feet.
Advertising photographer Blair Bunting, 41, made the once-in-a-lifetime trip to space onboard a U-2 Dragon Lady.
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The U-2 Dragon Lady is a high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft that has been in service with the US Air Force for almost 70 years.
Bunting, who resides in Phoenix, Arizona, captured the unforgettable trip in a five-minute video: “We did a photoshoot at the edge of space to show the legacy of the U-2 spy plane.
“We told the story of the Dragon Lady through a series of images captured on the ground and over 70,000ft above the Earth.
“It was an incredible experience that I will never forget.”
The video allows viewers to witness Bunting’s incredible journey from the moment he puts on his orange-colored space suit to when the U-2 aircraft reaches insane speeds during take off.
Bunting captures exclusive behind-the-scenes shots from inside the spy plane and the breathtaking view of Earth’s curved horizon from 70,000 feet up.
The avid photographer also captures an image of a second U-2 aircraft that accompanied them to the edge of space.
During his trip, Bunting sends a touching shoutout to his father: “Hey, dad, I didn’t tell you, but I took your lens. I brought it to space. I just want to say thank you for your support.”
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The incredible video captures Bunting’s enthusiastic reaction when the U-2 aircraft lands on the surface, as he’s seen screaming: “Yeah!” and popping a bottle of champagne open.
Bunting’s incredible trip came after he flew with the USAF Thunderbirds, during which the pilot took him 50,000 feet, did barrel rolls, and hit 9.4 G-force.
After that trip, Bunting was approached by a friend and a former pilot of the 425th Fighter Squadron who told him: “50,000ft is higher than a jetliner, but you know there’s a plane that goes even higher.”
Following years of planning and discussions, during which time Bunting had become a father, he received a text message that read: “High flight has been green-lit.”
Bunting wrote a blog about his experience: “I told no one of this, as mentally I could not process it.
“I had just been cleared to do a photo shoot at the edge of space. I wasn’t overly excited or emotional; rather, I was stunned and in disbelief.
“While I loved the idea of what it would be like to see the curvature of the Earth and the blackness of space, there was a more cautious side of me that was incredibly terrified by it all.”
PREPARING FOR LAUNCH DAY
Preparation for launch day included taking extensive measurements for a special high-altitude spacesuit, down to the circumference of each knuckle on Bunting’s hands, he told The U.S. Sun.
“The spacesuit was tailored so that if a rapid decompression happened, the pilot’s arms would stay down so that they could eject from the plane,” Bunting explained.
“This made it difficult to photograph, as the suit fights you when trying to raise your arms with a camera.
“On top of this, I would have to rely on a liquid-crystal display (LCD) screen as the fishbowl on my head made it impossible to use the regular viewfinder.
“These were only some of the considerations I had to think about daily.”
Bunting knew he would need to be in the best shape physically and mentally to make the most of the flight, so he quit drinking alcohol and started working out with a trainer three times a week.
He said: “I’d continue this for the next six months so that my shoulders would be strong enough to combat the suit.
“One final thing I took on was daily meditation, suggested by one of the pilots for mental focus beyond the noise of the suit.”
Bunting’s life began to revolve around the project.
He tested equipment and researched which lenses and cameras would be best to take.
And he was asked whether he would want to do the first plane-to-plane photoshoot while at the edge of space – something that meant Bunting would need to take a second set-up of camera gear.
“I was becoming more and more confident in all the pre-production behind the shoot, and finally, I received a phone call from the base that said my mission was confirmed: the flight would take place on April 14th at 11am,” he said.
With the flight just days away, Bunting headed to Beale Air Force Base, about eight miles east of Marysville, California, where he underwent an extensive physical examination with the flight doctor.
“In the first hour of being on the base, I realized how significant this was,” Bunting explained to The U.S. Sun.
“The gravity of what was unfolding before me really started to sink in, and there was an electric feeling in the air.
“Everyone I met was thrilled to be a part of a civilian high flight — this hadn’t happened in several years.
“After an hour and a half of checkups, I received clearance for a high flight.”
Bunting’s wife Erin came to join him at the base, and it was time for him to get suited – in “what felt like an oversized La-Z-Boy chair.”
He was then taught how to eat, drink, and urinate while on the plane.
On the big day, Bunting woke at 4am “equal parts excited, nervous, and scared shitless,” he said.
After tests and checks – which revealed the air seal in his helmet needed to be removed and replaced three times – it was time to head to the U-2.
Once integrated, Bunting brought his equipment and braced himself for the departure.
He said: “The takeoff is far less violent than one in a fighter jet and is quite peaceful in many ways.
“I took the time to take in my surroundings, the world getting smaller below us.
“Things soon became surreal as my pilot began calling out 10,000 feet, 20,000 feet, and 30,000 feet.
“I hadn’t realized how high we were until about 20 minutes into the flight when my pilot told me to look to my 9 o’clock, where we saw a commercial airliner flying at its max altitude — we were further above it than its distance from the Earth. The perspective was mesmerizing, and I took my camera out for a quick grab.
“Not long after, we caught our first glimpse of the second U-2 and started flying patterns to draw it closer to us.”
Bunting continued: “After about 30 minutes of flying in formation with the other U-2, my pilot and I cut him loose.
“We proceeded to climb to an even higher altitude. Things started to become difficult for me to process as I tried to wrap my mind around what I was witnessing.
“When I pictured going to the edge of space, I imagined myself feeling at ease with the idea that I was closer to the stars and somehow closer to those that have left us.
“This thought couldn’t be any further from the truth.
“When I got up there, I realized that all I’ve ever loved and ever will love was on the Earth glowing below me.
“Space felt empty and void of life… In truth, space is merely the platform to take in Earth’s natural splendor.
“Not long after the sky had darkened, the sides of the horizon started to bend as if the pressure of the darkness above had forced them downward.
“At that moment, I was witnessing the curvature of the Earth… I allowed myself to take it in as much as I could, but as soon as I realized it was becoming too strong of an emotion, I diverted my attention to the project.
“We circled the plane until the light hit it just right, and I fired the shutter. It only felt like minutes, but in reality, we had been up there for several hours.”
After flying for two hours, the aircraft returned to Earth – but Bunting said the journey left him with a different perspective.
“Returning home from this journey was different than any flight I’ve ever done,” he said.
“I had a new respect for what home was, and even though I was only gone for a little while, I had missed it dearly.
“As with tradition, as soon as I stepped back onto Earth, they handed me a bottle of champagne, and we began celebrating.
“Everyone wanted to ask questions about the flight, and all I wanted to do was thank them for their support.
“The truth is, it would be weeks before I could begin to comprehend what I had seen and been a part of.
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“I’ll forever be humbled by the opportunity and the trust of those around me to do this photoshoot, and I’m honored by the effort it took to bring these images to life.
“It was truly the journey of a lifetime.”
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