Modern Classics – Travel literature book review – Yann Arthus-Bertrand – French photographer, environmentalist, and traveller, 2004
I first became aware of Yann and his prolific output whilst visiting Birmingham one day in early 2005. My wife took me to view the huge open-air display of his work, which was on a world-wide tour. It provided an engrossing diversion for her during her lunch time meanders. The 150-poster size aerial photos from global wide locations were taken by him from helicopter and hot air balloon. The pictures were staggering, providing a strategic view of a wide range of man-made and natural phenomena. We bought the hefty book (‘Earth from Above’) that accompanied the exhibition on the spot. No drones were used in its compilation.
This though only covered a small sample of his work. His website (http://www.yannarthusbertrand2.org) contains thousands of pictures across 113 regions.
Yann has kindly given me permission to reproduce three of his photos here, which I hope are enough to persuade you to spend some time dipping into his huge back catalogue:
Village near Tahoua. Niger. Uranium mines in the region yield 3,000 tons per year.
Abandoned city of Pripiat, near Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Ukraine. Scene of world’s worst nuclear accident in 1986.
Mount Punatubo, a volcano north of Manila, Philippines. Its eruption in 1991 was the biggest volcanic explosion of the twentieth century.
Damian Rainford, 2021
All pictures Copyright Yann Arthus-Bertrand, except header image: Symeon Ekizoglou, Pixels Free Photos.
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