Yann Artus-Bertran French photographer Date of Birth: 13.03.1946 Country: France

Biography of Yann Arthus-Bertrand

Yann Arthus-Bertrand is a French photographer who has been capturing our planet from a bird's eye view for many years. Born in 1946, Yann initially pursued a career as an actor after graduating from an art school in Paris. However, he soon realized that the true beauty of the world lies in nature and decided to become a photographer instead.

Yann's love for aerial photography began when he first flew in a helicopter over the Masai Mara Reserve in Kenya. From that moment on, he was captivated by the unique perspective that aerial photography offered. His first book, "Lions," published in 1981, featured some of his aerial shots.

After returning to France, Yann worked as a photojournalist and had his work published in renowned international publications. He covered events such as the Paris-Dakar Rally, sandstorms in the Sahara, and gorillas in the jungles of Rwanda, earning him numerous prestigious awards. However, his true passion remained capturing the Earth's landscapes from above.

In 1991, Yann founded his own photo agency, Altitude, and began working on projects around the world under the auspices of UNESCO. His photographs were taken from helicopters or hot air balloons, allowing him to capture landscapes from heights ranging from 30 to 300 meters above the ground. His subjects varied, encompassing both natural beauty and the devastating effects of human actions, such as deforestation, dried-up rivers, and massive city dumps.

Over the years, Yann has traveled to approximately 80 countries and taken over a hundred thousand photographs. His best 214 shots were compiled into the book "Earth from Above," which was first published in 1995 and has since been reprinted in 16 countries, including Russia, with a total circulation of 800,000 copies. Additionally, his exhibitions have been visited by 70 million people worldwide.

Yann continues to explore new locations and embark on various projects. His current project, "Six Billion," aims to portray the diversity of people around the world, highlighting their worth and significance just like a part of nature. He is also preparing an album dedicated to his favorite animals, horses, which includes portraits of the two horses residing in his rural home outside Paris.

Yann's family consists of his wife, Anna, and three sons, two of whom have followed in their father's footsteps. Despite being 59 years old, Yann shows no signs of slowing down. His ultimate dream is to capture aerial photographs of all the countries in the world, although some countries, like Saudi Arabia and China, have prohibited him from conducting aerial shoots.

For his environmental conservation efforts, Yann has been honored with France's highest award, the Legion of Honor. However, his greatest reward is the long queues of people eagerly waiting to visit his exhibitions. Another dream of his is to open a gallery in the Luxembourg Gardens, where people can find solace and inspiration in the beauty of his photographs.

Yann Arthus-Bertrand is not just a photographer but a true artist who collaborates with nature to create masterpieces. His work allows people to experience the world's beauty from a different perspective and encourages them to cherish and protect this fragile beauty.