Meet the daredevil photographer who hangs out of helicopters

By Francesca Street, CNN
Updated 4:56 AM EDT, Tue September 25, 2018
<strong>Helicopter heights:</strong> Photographer <a href="https://www.jprensena.com/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Jin-Woo Prensena</a> takes aerial photographs with a twist -- the daredevil lensman hangs out of helicopters to take his striking shots. "Aerial fine art photography attracts me because it is one of the most challenging types of photography," Prensena tells CNN Travel. <em>Pictured here, LAX airport, Los Angeles, California.</em>
Helicopter heights: Photographer Jin-Woo Prensena takes aerial photographs with a twist -- the daredevil lensman hangs out of helicopters to take his striking shots. "Aerial fine art photography attracts me because it is one of the most challenging types of photography," Prensena tells CNN Travel. Pictured here, LAX airport, Los Angeles, California.
Courtesy Jin-Woo Prensena
<strong>Meticulous planning:</strong> "Everything has to be right: weather, extensive planning, high-quality gear and the best photo equipment all securely strapped either to me or the helicopter," Prensena explains. It's a complicated art, but the German-born, LA-based photographer has become renowned for his stunning aerial shots. <em>Pictured here: Mallorca, Spain.</em>
Meticulous planning: "Everything has to be right: weather, extensive planning, high-quality gear and the best photo equipment all securely strapped either to me or the helicopter," Prensena explains. It's a complicated art, but the German-born, LA-based photographer has become renowned for his stunning aerial shots. Pictured here: Mallorca, Spain.
Courtesy Jin-Woo Prensena
<strong>International influencer</strong>: Prensena loves to travel -- he's got an international background and a penchant for adventures: "English is my second language," he explains. "I originally come from Germany and my parents come from South Korea." <em>Pictured here: Mallorca, Spain.</em>
International influencer: Prensena loves to travel -- he's got an international background and a penchant for adventures: "English is my second language," he explains. "I originally come from Germany and my parents come from South Korea." Pictured here: Mallorca, Spain.
Courtesy Jin-Woo Prensena
<strong>Hollywood heights</strong>: Prensena also traveled a lot for his first job -- and moved in high-profile circles. "I worked for around 12 years for a very well-known, A-list celebrity as his estate manager/handler," explains the photographer. "I traveled all over the world [...] I started wanting to capture all the experiences I had throughout the travel. That's how I got slowly into photography."<em> Pictured here: Montauk, New York.</em>
Hollywood heights: Prensena also traveled a lot for his first job -- and moved in high-profile circles. "I worked for around 12 years for a very well-known, A-list celebrity as his estate manager/handler," explains the photographer. "I traveled all over the world [...] I started wanting to capture all the experiences I had throughout the travel. That's how I got slowly into photography." Pictured here: Montauk, New York.
Courtesy Jin-Woo Prensena
<strong>Technical and creative: </strong>Prensena was intrigued by the artistic challenge presented by aerial photography: "In general I'm drawn to -- especially within photography -- the need to be creative and also the technical aspects, both of these factors have to come together," Prensena explains. <em>Pictured here: Capo di Conca, Conca dei Marini SA, Italy.</em>
Technical and creative: Prensena was intrigued by the artistic challenge presented by aerial photography: "In general I'm drawn to -- especially within photography -- the need to be creative and also the technical aspects, both of these factors have to come together," Prensena explains. Pictured here: Capo di Conca, Conca dei Marini SA, Italy.
Courtesy Jin-Woo Prensena
<strong>Daredevil extremes</strong>: Inspired to take to the skies, Prensena teamed up with his friend Aaron Fitzgerald, a skilled helicopter pilot from <a href="https://www.airborneimages.com/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Airborne Images</a>. "We're both daredevils and so I said in an ideal world I would love to shoot not just in a helicopter but actually hanging out, it gives me much more freedom to use the camera in any type of angle," says Prensena. <em>Pictured here: Da Luigi, Italy.</em>
Daredevil extremes: Inspired to take to the skies, Prensena teamed up with his friend Aaron Fitzgerald, a skilled helicopter pilot from Airborne Images. "We're both daredevils and so I said in an ideal world I would love to shoot not just in a helicopter but actually hanging out, it gives me much more freedom to use the camera in any type of angle," says Prensena. Pictured here: Da Luigi, Italy.
Courtesy Jin-Woo Prensena
<strong>Unique experience:</strong> Prensena, pictured here, says the sensation of photographing the world from above is a spectacular one. "You're totally fueled up with adrenaline, but then on the other hand you have to be creative," he says. "You have to be technically very savvy, you're up in the air and you have to be creative as well." <em>Pictured here: Prensena photographing LA from the sky.</em>
Unique experience: Prensena, pictured here, says the sensation of photographing the world from above is a spectacular one. "You're totally fueled up with adrenaline, but then on the other hand you have to be creative," he says. "You have to be technically very savvy, you're up in the air and you have to be creative as well." Pictured here: Prensena photographing LA from the sky.
Courtesy Jin-Woo Prensena
<strong>Aerial angles</strong>: Prensena says being suspended in the sky gets the best pictures: "Actually hanging out, it gives me much more freedom to use the camera in any type of angle," says Prensena. "Especially if I want to shoot vertically, fully vertical down, which, I believe, as a photographer, gives you a very unique angle." <em>Pictured here, Downtown Los Angeles, California.</em>
Aerial angles: Prensena says being suspended in the sky gets the best pictures: "Actually hanging out, it gives me much more freedom to use the camera in any type of angle," says Prensena. "Especially if I want to shoot vertically, fully vertical down, which, I believe, as a photographer, gives you a very unique angle." Pictured here, Downtown Los Angeles, California.
Courtesy Jin-Woo Prensena
<strong>Unique perspective</strong>: His eye-catching shots depict skies and cities in a unique way. Some of his most striking photos show planes flying below his helicopter: "They were taken at 7,500 feet up in the air," says Prensena. "If you look at them there's still a simplicity about it." <em>Pictured here: LAX airport, Los Angeles, California.</em>
Unique perspective: His eye-catching shots depict skies and cities in a unique way. Some of his most striking photos show planes flying below his helicopter: "They were taken at 7,500 feet up in the air," says Prensena. "If you look at them there's still a simplicity about it." Pictured here: LAX airport, Los Angeles, California.
Courtesy Jin-Woo Prensena
<strong>Safety and security:</strong> Helicopter photography is a scary business for Prensena -- he also has to be conscious of the security of others: "Because safety is number one [...] everything in the helicopter has to be strapped or connected to the helicopter, just so there is no possible chance that anything could fly out," says Prensena. <em>Pictured here: Santa Monica Beach, California.</em>
Safety and security: Helicopter photography is a scary business for Prensena -- he also has to be conscious of the security of others: "Because safety is number one [...] everything in the helicopter has to be strapped or connected to the helicopter, just so there is no possible chance that anything could fly out," says Prensena. Pictured here: Santa Monica Beach, California.
Courtesy Jin-Woo Prensena
<strong>Shaky experiences</strong>: The photographer says the experience up in the air can be difficult: "It is windy, shaky, extremely loud, where you can't hear the shutter and your eyes constantly water up due to the high winds," he says. "One thing that I learned very quickly is that hanging out on the ground of the helicopter is very different than hanging out up in the air of the helicopter." <em>Pictured here: Downtown Los Angeles, California.</em>
Shaky experiences: The photographer says the experience up in the air can be difficult: "It is windy, shaky, extremely loud, where you can't hear the shutter and your eyes constantly water up due to the high winds," he says. "One thing that I learned very quickly is that hanging out on the ground of the helicopter is very different than hanging out up in the air of the helicopter." Pictured here: Downtown Los Angeles, California.
Courtesy Jin-Woo Prensena
<strong>Perfect places</strong>: Prensena classifies himself as an aerial fine art photographer. He's attracted to beautiful colors and scenery: "It's important that the final shot looks how I envisage it in my head," says Prensena. "As a fine art photographer versus a documentary photographer or an advertising photographer, you have, I think, a little bit more freedom." <em>Pictured here: Faraglioni, Capri, Italy.</em>
Perfect places: Prensena classifies himself as an aerial fine art photographer. He's attracted to beautiful colors and scenery: "It's important that the final shot looks how I envisage it in my head," says Prensena. "As a fine art photographer versus a documentary photographer or an advertising photographer, you have, I think, a little bit more freedom." Pictured here: Faraglioni, Capri, Italy.
Courtesy Jin-Woo Prensena
<strong>Large scale</strong>: Prensena's photographs are designed to be viewed large-scale. He sells his prints on canvases up to 58x103 inches (147x261 cm) in size: "I shoot mainly on a Phase One XF 100MP medium format camera system," he says. <em>Pictured here: Fontelina Capri, Italy.</em>
Large scale: Prensena's photographs are designed to be viewed large-scale. He sells his prints on canvases up to 58x103 inches (147x261 cm) in size: "I shoot mainly on a Phase One XF 100MP medium format camera system," he says. Pictured here: Fontelina Capri, Italy.
Courtesy Jin-Woo Prensena
<strong>Skill set</strong>: Prensena's former life as a Hollywood handler imbued him with top organizational skills, which are useful in his photography career: "I think aerial photography has to do with a lot of logistics, so a lot of planning," he says. <em>Pictured here: LAX airport, Los Angeles, California.</em>
Skill set: Prensena's former life as a Hollywood handler imbued him with top organizational skills, which are useful in his photography career: "I think aerial photography has to do with a lot of logistics, so a lot of planning," he says. Pictured here: LAX airport, Los Angeles, California.
Courtesy Jin-Woo Prensena
<strong>Conversation starter</strong>: Prensena is still popular in Hollywood: "I have a pretty good celebrity clientele," he admits. "In Los Angeles I'm doing extremely well already, so most of my business comes from word of mouth because all of my prints are so big and once they go up on the wall they become a topic of conversation automatically." <em>Pictured here: Universal Studios, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.</em>
Conversation starter: Prensena is still popular in Hollywood: "I have a pretty good celebrity clientele," he admits. "In Los Angeles I'm doing extremely well already, so most of my business comes from word of mouth because all of my prints are so big and once they go up on the wall they become a topic of conversation automatically." Pictured here: Universal Studios, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.
Courtesy Jin-Woo Prensena
<strong>Big names and big impressions: </strong>Prensena says major divorce attorney Laura Wasser is one of his biggest clients. "She represents Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp, they got me for their new office to put art up," he says. "They first purchased five prints and then another five prints, they called me half a year later -- we are at 25 large-scale prints." <em>Pictured here: Fontelina, Capri, Italy.</em>
Big names and big impressions: Prensena says major divorce attorney Laura Wasser is one of his biggest clients. "She represents Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp, they got me for their new office to put art up," he says. "They first purchased five prints and then another five prints, they called me half a year later -- we are at 25 large-scale prints." Pictured here: Fontelina, Capri, Italy.
Courtesy Jin-Woo Prensena
<strong>Unorthodox exhibitions:</strong> Prensena has also dabbled in exhibitions, but never in traditional spaces. "I like to think a bit more outside the box, I always try and find different ways and not necessarily go the traditional route," he says. "When I had an exhibition at the 45 Park Lane hotel [in London] it is actually not a gallery but a very prestigious hotel [...] I like the idea to showcase my work in an environment like that, versus in a traditional gallery." <em>Pictured here: Marina Del Rey, California.</em>
Unorthodox exhibitions: Prensena has also dabbled in exhibitions, but never in traditional spaces. "I like to think a bit more outside the box, I always try and find different ways and not necessarily go the traditional route," he says. "When I had an exhibition at the 45 Park Lane hotel [in London] it is actually not a gallery but a very prestigious hotel [...] I like the idea to showcase my work in an environment like that, versus in a traditional gallery." Pictured here: Marina Del Rey, California.
Courtesy Jin-Woo Prensena
<strong>High quality</strong>: Prensena puts his success down to his quest for quality and the intricacy of his pictures: "I think what my buyers can relate to is that they know that I strive always for the best quality," says Prensena. "I'm drawn to obviously beautiful images, but behind the scenes I'm willing to go the extra step and to take any possible challenges on, in order to get that image." <em>Pictured here: Mallorca, Spain.</em>
High quality: Prensena puts his success down to his quest for quality and the intricacy of his pictures: "I think what my buyers can relate to is that they know that I strive always for the best quality," says Prensena. "I'm drawn to obviously beautiful images, but behind the scenes I'm willing to go the extra step and to take any possible challenges on, in order to get that image." Pictured here: Mallorca, Spain.
Courtesy Jin-Woo Prensena
<strong>Simple pleasures:</strong> Despite the high-pressure backstory behind the pictures -- the resulting images have a calming quality. "The actual image quite often has an almost peacefulness and serenity about it," agrees Prensena. "From what I've heard from my buyers, they really appreciate that effort that has been put into, combined with pretty much the best camera equipment you can get." <em>Pictured here: Mallorca, Spain.</em>
Simple pleasures: Despite the high-pressure backstory behind the pictures -- the resulting images have a calming quality. "The actual image quite often has an almost peacefulness and serenity about it," agrees Prensena. "From what I've heard from my buyers, they really appreciate that effort that has been put into, combined with pretty much the best camera equipment you can get." Pictured here: Mallorca, Spain.
Courtesy Jin-Woo Prensena
<strong>New heights</strong>: In an exciting new move, Prensena recently collaborated with actress and businesswoman Jessica Alba and Honest Company. "I shot the cover art for all four scents, Lavender Field, Grapefruit Grove, Free and Clear and Coastal Surf, which is an aerial shot of the Napali Coast of Kauai," he explains. <em>Pictured here: Mallorca, Spain.</em>
New heights: In an exciting new move, Prensena recently collaborated with actress and businesswoman Jessica Alba and Honest Company. "I shot the cover art for all four scents, Lavender Field, Grapefruit Grove, Free and Clear and Coastal Surf, which is an aerial shot of the Napali Coast of Kauai," he explains. Pictured here: Mallorca, Spain.
Courtesy Jin-Woo Prensena
<strong>International market</strong>: Prensena hopes to continue to create his prints and travel to more locations across the world -- opening up his photographs to an international market. "I'd love to have an exhibition in South Korea, because that's where my original heritage is coming from," he says. <em>Pictured here: Mallorca, Spain.</em>
International market: Prensena hopes to continue to create his prints and travel to more locations across the world -- opening up his photographs to an international market. "I'd love to have an exhibition in South Korea, because that's where my original heritage is coming from," he says. Pictured here: Mallorca, Spain.
Courtesy Jin-Woo Prensena
<strong>Future ambitions</strong>: Prensena says he would also like to photograph other destinations from the air. "The list is long, but I would like to shoot over Africa, especially during the migration time, when all the animals move from one place to another. And then also flying over Antarctica," he adds. <em>Pictured here: Venice Skate Park, Los Angeles, California.</em>
Future ambitions: Prensena says he would also like to photograph other destinations from the air. "The list is long, but I would like to shoot over Africa, especially during the migration time, when all the animals move from one place to another. And then also flying over Antarctica," he adds. Pictured here: Venice Skate Park, Los Angeles, California.
Courtesy Jin-Woo Prensena
Spectacular photos taken hanging out of a helicopter
CNN  — 

Seeing the world from above is always a thrilling experience – even if it’s just from an airplane window.

So imagine how photographer Jin-Woo Prensena feels hanging out of a helicopter. The daredevil lensman takes spectacular shots of the world from above – suspended in the air, often more than 7,500 feet above ground.

“Aerial fine art photography attracts me because it is one of the most challenging types of photography,” Prensena tells CNN Travel.

The resulting photos are intricate, perfectly composed photos of beaches, airports and cities – all from this incredible vantage point.

Helicopter heights

Prensena took this beach shot of the Spanish island of Mallorca.
Prensena took this beach shot of the Spanish island of Mallorca.
Courtesy Jin-Woo Prensena

Germany-born, LA-based Prensena has always had a penchant for travel – his international background imbued him with a sense of adventure.

“English is my second language,” he explains. “I originally come from Germany and my parents come from South Korea.”

He’s lived in California for the past 20 years and branched into aerial photography three years ago. This art form attracted Prensena because it combined his interest in travel and his love of adventure and challenge. He previously worked in Hollywood – traveling across the globe and mixing in high-profile circles.

“I worked for around 12 years for a very well known, A-list celebrity as his estate manager/handler,” says Prensena.

Prensena used to work as a Hollywood handler. Pictured here: Downtown Los Angeles.
Prensena used to work as a Hollywood handler. Pictured here: Downtown Los Angeles.
Courtesy Jin-Woo Prensena

“I traveled all over the world […] I started wanting to capture all the experiences I had throughout the travel. That’s how I got slowly into photography.”

Prensena has always been daring – he has a head for heights and loves a challenge.

“When I was younger in Germany, I was a paratrooper in the military service, so I did quite a bit of jumps out of helicopters and airplanes so it’s not totally new to me,” he says.

“I like any type of challenge, I’m a very competitive person,” he admits.

Inspired to experiment with aerial photography, Prensena took to the skies with his helicopter pilot friend Aaron Fitzgerald, from Airborne Images. The two discussed how Prensena could get the best possible shots.

“We’re both daredevils and so I said in an ideal world I would love to shoot not just in a helicopter but actually hanging out,” recalls Prensena.

“It gives me much more freedom to use the camera in any type of angle. Especially if I want to shoot vertically, fully vertical down, which, I believe, as a photographer gives you a very unique angle.”

Beauty of the everyday: Photos of Earth from a window seat

Unique vantage point

Prensena says aerial photography is an adrenaline-fuelled experience, pictured here.
Prensena says aerial photography is an adrenaline-fuelled experience, pictured here.
Courtesy Jin-Woo Prensena

Prensena says the experience of photographing the world from above, suspended from a moving helicopter, is unforgettable.

“You’re totally fueled up with adrenaline, but then on the other hand you have to be creative,” he says. “You have to be technically very savvy, you’re up in the air and you have to be creative as well.”

During these aerial shoots, Prensena is attached to the helicopter with a professional rescue harness, to ensure his safety. Everything else in the helicopter is strapped down so there’s no chance anything could fly out. The whole enterprise has to be meticulously planned. Fortunately, Prensena’s former Hollywood job instilled him with great organizational skills.