The Red Bull Bridge Traverse is one of those projects that happens once in a lifetime, it exists for only seconds in execution, and there is no room for error, yet as a photographer, you have to prepare for days.

On a motorway in North Rhine-Westphalia, German freestyle motocross rider Luc Ackermann defied physics itself by pulling off a Tsunami Backflip between two moving trucks, soaring over a 9-metre-high motorway barrier.

Ackermann accelerated his motorcycle to 54 km/h from the bed of a truck already moving at 20 km/h. Once he reached the speed of 74 km/h, he launched into the air, executed the backflip, and landed on a second truck that was moving ahead. During this feat, he covered 40 metres of flight and cleared a 23-metre gap between vehicles. Timing was everything, and Luc had only half a second to get it right. And he did it without a speedometer, relying only on instinct, calculation, and years of experience.

From a photographer’s point of view, this project required no less precision. My focus was to capture as many different angles of Ackermann’s jump as possible. To achieve that, I relied entirely on remote-controlled cameras. I didn’t even have a camera in my hands. Instead, I had to strategically position my equipment in advance, calculate the timing, and trigger at precisely the right moment. When I have the camera in my hands, I can adjust instantly. Whenever I have to place my trust completely in technology, there’s an added worry – one mistake, and the moment is lost forever.

In projects like this, good preparation is crucial. I double-checked and tested each camera several times, to make sure they are exactly where I needed them, ready to shoot in perfect sync with the athlete’s jump. In the end, everything worked flawlessly. I managed to take both single-frame shots and sequences that immortalize the mastery of this jump, exactly as I envisioned them.

Apart from being one of the once-in-a-lifetime projects, the Red Bull Bridge Traverse became a permanent piece of history through these photographs.

PREDRAG VUCKOVIC EXTREME PHOTOGRAPHER – ART BEHIND THE LENS

Predrag Vuckovic has vast experience with unique projects where timing and precision are everything. Throughout his career, he has captured historic moments worldwide, documenting athletes performing once-in-a-lifetime jumps and acrobatics.

His unique blend of technical expertise, creative vision, and experience with extreme sports makes him one of the most sought-after photographers for high-risk projects.

For the Red Bull Bridge Traverse, Predrag relied on his trusted professional equipment:

  • 2 Nikon Z8 and 3 Nikon Z9 cameras
  • A range of lenses from 14mm to 200mm
  • GoPro and 360 cameras, supporting the main camera setup with immersive perspectives
  • DJI Mavic 3 Pro drone, for aerial coverage

Predrag’s mastery of photography, combined with his deep knowledge of extreme sports, in this case freestyle motocross (FMX) and the dynamics of backflip jumps, played a crucial role in the strategic placement of remote-controlled cameras and the perfect timing required to capture every angle of this feat.