Norman A. Kent
Norman Albert Kent (born August 23, 1956) is an aerial cinematographer and skydiver best known for his aerial videography in films such as Cutaway, Drop Zone and Terminal Velocity.
Also recorded as Norman Albert Kent
Norman A. Kent
- Name
- Norman Kent
- Born
- 23 August 1956
- Birthplace
- El Paso, Texas, United States
- Known for
- Skydiver, Photographer,
- Nationality
- United States
- Occupation
- photographer
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Documentary summary
Norman Albert Kent (born August 23, 1956) is an aerial cinematographer and skydiver best known for his aerial videography in films such as Cutaway, Drop Zone and Terminal Velocity.
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Norman A. Kent was a photographer of United States nationality. Norman A. Kent was born in 1956, in El Paso.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
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In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Norman Kent • Born — 23 August 1956 • Birthplace — El Paso, Texas, United States • Known for — Skydiver, Photographer,
Childhood
Childhood
Born in El Paso, Texas, Kent grew up in Mexico City. His interest in photography developed as a young teenager after an excursion into the Mexican jungle when he was so taken with the beauty of the experience he wanted a way to share it.
Stunt work
Stunt work
Kent's skydiving expertise and connections in Hollywood have led to skydiving-related stunt work in numerous movies and TV shows. These include: • Get Smart (film) • Extreme Ops • XXX • Cutaway (2000 film) • Drop Zone (film) • Cliffhanger (film)
Skydiving
Skydiving
Norman Kent has made over 35,000 skydives during a career spanning over 30 years. Kent was awarded the USPA Gold Medal for Meritorious Achievement in 2006 in recognition of his "contributions to skydiving and the USPA". Kent periodically offers aerial videography workshops. In addition to videography considerations such as lighting, backdrop, and composition, his classes also cover camera suits, canopy openings, and the special safety considerations unique to videography in freefall.
Book
Book
Kent published a book of skydiving photography in 1993 titled Norman Kent Photos.
Recent work
Recent work
Kent most recently served as director of photography and stunt coordinator for the skydiving unit for the action comedy Get Smart.
Aerial photography
When nineteen, Kent made his first parachute jump and found skydiving to be an opportunity to fulfil his passions for both adventure and photography. While still relatively inexperienced Kent had a photograph published as the centrefold of “Parachutist” Magazine which led to offers of commission to shoot for movies, television and various print media. His first skydiving film was entitled Ride a Cloud, and Kent went on to make numerous films targeted at the skydiving fraternity, such as Kinisthesia, Wings, Willing to Fly, Flight of the Dream Team and From Wings came Flight. Kent has been one of the official photographers verifying many skydiving world records in all parts of the globe. Kent's notoriety for his aerial photography led to a demand for his services in Hollywood and he provided cinematography and coordinated aerial sequences in films such as Cliffhanger, Terminal Velocity, Eraser and Cutaway.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Norman Kent Productions. Norman Kent's Bio.
- 2.Dive In - Norman Kents Visual History of Skydiving.
- 3.NASA. Kennedy Engineers Set Skydiving World Record.
- 4.gofastsports.com. 300 Way photos shot by: Norman Kent.
- 5.Jump for the cause, 2002. Women's world record, 2002.
- 6.IMDB. Norman Kent Filmography.
- 7.Dive in. Amazon. November 2001.
- 8.United States Parachute Association. USPA Awards.
- 9.Antonsen, Vidar, Skydiving Magazine, January 2009, pg 29
- 10.Kent, Norman. Norman Kent Photos. Vellmar. 1993. 3-929792-00-1.
References
Citations
References
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reference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 18 August 2026.
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