October 12, 2010 at 9:05 am

The Incredible Aerial Photography of Yann Arthus-Bertrand [25 pics]

by twistedsifter

amazon river brazil aerial yann arthus bertrand The Incredible Aerial Photography of Yann Arthus Bertrand [25 pics]
The Amazon River, Brazil | Photograph by YANN ARTHUS BERTRAND

 

Born in Paris, France on March 13, 1946, Yann Arthus-Bertrand is a world-renowned photographer specializing in aerial photography. He didn’t fully realize his talents as a photographer until he was older (early thirties), spending three years in the late 70s, in Kenya living with the Massai tribe and studying the behaviour of a pride of lions. He thus discovered a new passion for photography and the beauty of landscapes when observed from above in hot air balloons. He understood the power of a picture and how to communicate using this means.

Below you will find a small sample of his incredible work, along with a short biography of Yann, and his thoughts on various concepts and ideas, enjoy!

 

2. Tasmania, Australia

tasmania australia aerial yann arthus bertrand The Incredible Aerial Photography of Yann Arthus Bertrand [25 pics]
Photograph by YANN ARTHUS BERTRAND

 

3. Masai Mara National Park – Kenya, Africa

cattle masai mara national park kenya aerial yann arthus bertrand The Incredible Aerial Photography of Yann Arthus Bertrand [25 pics]
Photograph by YANN ARTHUS BERTRAND

 

4. Machu Picchu, Peru

machu picchu peru aerial yann arthus bertrand The Incredible Aerial Photography of Yann Arthus Bertrand [25 pics]
Photograph by YANN ARTHUS BERTRAND

 

YANN ARTHUS-BERTRAND Continued…

Upon his return to France, he published in 1981 his first book Lions, first release of a series of 80 books. He also began a career as a reporter-photographer and closely worked with various naturalists including Dian Fossey and her mountain gorillas in Rwanda. His work was published in many internationally known magazines such as Paris Match, Geo, Life or National Geographic. In 1991, Yann created Altitude, the first photo agency specialized in aerial photography.

 

5. Coal Mines in South Africa

coal mine aerial south africa yann arthus bertrand The Incredible Aerial Photography of Yann Arthus Bertrand [25 pics]
Photograph by YANN ARTHUS BERTRAND

 

6. Jengish, Kyrgyzstan

mountains aerial jengish kyrgyzstan The Incredible Aerial Photography of Yann Arthus Bertrand [25 pics]
Photograph by YANN ARTHUS BERTRAND

 

7. Easter Island, Chile

easter island chile aerial yann arthus bertrand The Incredible Aerial Photography of Yann Arthus Bertrand [25 pics]
Photograph by YANN ARTHUS BERTRAND

 

YANN ARTHUS-BERTRAND continued…

In the 90s, under the patronage of UNESCO, Yann embarked upon his most ambitious project: creating an image bank of the Earth seen from above. Yann’s aim was to create a record of the world’s environment for present and future generations. In 1999, his work was published and The Earth from Above, translated in 24 languages, became one of the best selling illustrated books with more than three million copies sold worldwide. The Earth from Above is also an open-air free access exhibition that travels in more than 100 cities around the world and has attracted to this date over 100 million visitors. But it is still a work in progress. Many countries remain to be visited, and geographical coordinates of every shot will allow other photographers and scientists to locate and document the evolution of these sites.

 

8. Military Cemetery – Verdun, France

military cemetery verdun france yann arthus bertrand The Incredible Aerial Photography of Yann Arthus Bertrand [25 pics]
Photograph by YANN ARTHUS BERTRAND

 

9. Suburbs of Copenhagen, Denmark

suburbs copenhagen denmakrk yann arthus bertrand The Incredible Aerial Photography of Yann Arthus Bertrand [25 pics]
Photograph by YANN ARTHUS BERTRAND

 

10. Shali, Egypt

shali egypt aerial yann arthus bertrand The Incredible Aerial Photography of Yann Arthus Bertrand [25 pics]
Photograph by YANN ARTHUS BERTRAND

 

YANN ARTHUS-BERTRAND continued…

In 2005 Yann Arthus-Bertrand created GoodPlanet, a non-profit organization which is dedicated to the promotion of sustainable development, his leitmotiv, through all his different projects. Yann would like to enable each and every one of us to become a custodian of our planet’s future and consequently of our own future. He also directed a series of four, two hour documentaries entitled Earth From Above – which was shown on French television in 2006-2007 –, and started this year the production of a feature length film on the state of the global environment and the challenges we are facing.

 

11. Fraser Island Dune – Australia

fraser island dune australia aerial yann arthus bertrand The Incredible Aerial Photography of Yann Arthus Bertrand [25 pics]
Photograph by YANN ARTHUS BERTRAND

 

12. Sha Kibbutz, Israel

sha kibbutz israel aerial yann arthus bertrand The Incredible Aerial Photography of Yann Arthus Bertrand [25 pics]
Photograph by YANN ARTHUS BERTRAND

 

13. Favelas of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

favelas rio de janeiro aerial yann arthus bertrand The Incredible Aerial Photography of Yann Arthus Bertrand [25 pics]
Photograph by YANN ARTHUS BERTRAND

 

BEAUTY

 
“For a long time, I was afraid to use that word. Still, it holds a truth and I have made it mine. There is a universal quality about beauty; in front of a vast landscape, we all share the same feeling of wonder. When nature is beautiful, we are all moved by it. While taking a photo ‘for beauty at its best’, I aim at eliciting emotion to provoke thought and the need to know more, to read the caption and learn what is at stake on the image.”

 

14. Pena, Portugal

pena portugal aerial yann arthus bertrand The Incredible Aerial Photography of Yann Arthus Bertrand [25 pics]
Photograph by YANN ARTHUS BERTRAND

 

15. Stockholm, Sweden

stockholm sweden aerial yann arthus bertrand The Incredible Aerial Photography of Yann Arthus Bertrand [25 pics]
Photograph by YANN ARTHUS BERTRAND

 

16. Paris, France

louver and ile de la cite paris france aerial The Incredible Aerial Photography of Yann Arthus Bertrand [25 pics]
Photograph by YANN ARTHUS BERTRAND

 

FRAMING

 
“When framing a photograph, one looks with more tension, more professionally; one concentrates, detached. The eye is alert. Emotion comes later. With time, the camera becomes an extension of oneself. I am practically unable to look at the world outside the frame of the camera. I am obsessed with the Large Picture. So much so that I would rather not see certain things than see them without a camera. Naturally, the photos I remember best are those I failed to take.”

 

17. Hashima Island, Japan

battleship hashima island japan aerial The Incredible Aerial Photography of Yann Arthus Bertrand [25 pics]
Photograph by YANN ARTHUS BERTRAND

 

18. Boat Houses of Lagos, Nigeria

boat houses lagos nigeria aerial The Incredible Aerial Photography of Yann Arthus Bertrand [25 pics]
Photograph by YANN ARTHUS BERTRAND

 

19. Walled City of Dubrovnik, Croatia

walled city of dubrovnik croatia yann arthus bertrand The Incredible Aerial Photography of Yann Arthus Bertrand [25 pics]
Photograph by YANN ARTHUS BERTRAND

 

PHOTOGRAPHY

 
“For me, photography is a way to share what I have seen. It also allows me to live the kind of life I want to live. I became an animal photographer to stay in Africa and study the lions. In the early stages at least, photography is the profession you embrace to live on the roads and travel; a camera provides an excellent excuse to take off, leaving responsibilities and ties behind.

I started out without much of a photographic culture and approached the profession as an entrepreneur: I needed to provide ideas, to be methodical in my projects.

Technique has always seemed secondary to me. Nowadays, we are all capable of taking good pictures, particularly since auto-focus and digital cameras. It most certainly makes for demystification.
You need talent to ‘see’ – not to press the button. The best shots derive from enlightened amateurism, from the free and open vision of the amateur coupled with careful consideration, for photography demands much distancing. Which takes us back to the old and ongoing debate: is photography a fully-fledged art form, or just a means to testify?”

 

20. Gullholmen, Sweden

gullholmen sweden aerial yann arthus bertrand The Incredible Aerial Photography of Yann Arthus Bertrand [25 pics]
Photograph by YANN ARTHUS BERTRAND

 

21. Palm Jumeirah – Dubai, UAE

palm jumeirah dubai uae aerial The Incredible Aerial Photography of Yann Arthus Bertrand [25 pics]
Photograph by YANN ARTHUS BERTRAND

 

22. Pigeon Houses – Mit Gahmr Delta, Egypt

pigeon houses mit gahmr delta egypt The Incredible Aerial Photography of Yann Arthus Bertrand [25 pics]
Photograph by YANN ARTHUS BERTRAND

 

RESPONSIBILITY

 
“I became less flexible as a result of knowing the Earth. Since we all have a share of responsibility, I try to do my part on a daily basis. Earth from above, the book, sold over 2 million copies, plus the exhibitions and published photographs (with their captions, always). This means my work has a definite impact. Hence, like all journalists, I must give careful thought to my responsibilities. In Buddhist philosophy, if your life is not in keeping with your words, your words are worth nothing. I believe each of us should attempt at leading an exemplary life. Though perfection may be an illusory goal, striving towards it in everyday life must deserve some credit.”

 

23. Suburbs – Denver, Colorado

denver colorado aerial yann arthus bertrand The Incredible Aerial Photography of Yann Arthus Bertrand [25 pics]
Photograph by YANN ARTHUS BERTRAND

 

24. Los Angeles Freeway, California

la freeway aerial yann arthus bertrand The Incredible Aerial Photography of Yann Arthus Bertrand [25 pics]
Photograph by YANN ARTHUS BERTRAND

 

25. Solar Plant – Andalusia, Spain

solar plant andalusia spain aerial yann arthus bertrand The Incredible Aerial Photography of Yann Arthus Bertrand [25 pics]
Photograph by YANN ARTHUS BERTRAND

 

 

All information via YANNARTHUSBERTRAND.ORG

 

 

 

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25 MIND-BLOWING AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS AROUND THE WORLD
 

rano kau volcano in rapa nui national park easter island chile The Incredible Aerial Photography of Yann Arthus Bertrand [25 pics]