Pictures from a Paraglider

Photographer George Steinmetz travels the world photographing surreal landscapes from the seat of his paraglider.

12.12.12 | By: Maryam

A little shift in perspective can change a lot. Take photographer George Steinmetz, for example. Steinmetz, whose work has frequently been featured in National Geographic Magazine, defamiliarizes the world so often captured by photographs and photographers by taking a look from a different angle: from above, from a seat suspended in his paraglider.

It is a method that Steinmetz spent decades mastering in various places all over the word; an effort worth its arduousness for the quality and the unique beauty he is able to capture. His photographs are simultaneously real and surreal, and at times so vivid that they render it difficult to discern whether they are photographs or paintings.

Steinmetz has shot landscapes all around the world, and is able to pack his entire paraglider into three bags weighing less than 72 lbs, which is the limit for standard baggage on most commercial aircraft. After arriving at his take-off destination by 4×4, camel, speed boat, or canoe, Steinmetz tunes his rig, and seeks out a clear launching area that's at least the size of a basketball court. Then equipped with 10 liters of gasoline mixed with 2% oil, he's up and away, often flying for 2-3 hours of time.

Head on over to George Steinmetz's website to see the rest of the stunning collection and to learn about the stories behind the photos. He also has a few books out that we'd love to see on our coffee table.