Overview: A New Perspective of Earth - Hardcover

Grant, Benjamin

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 039957865X ISBN 13: 9780399578656

Publisher: Amphoto Books, 2016

Synopsis

A stunning and unique collection of satellite images of Earth that offer an unexpected look at humanity, derived from the wildly popular Daily Overview Instagram account.

Inspired by the "Overview Effect"--a sensation that astronauts experience when given the opportunity to look down and view the Earth as a whole--the breathtaking, high definition satellite photographs in OVERVIEW offer a new way to look at the landscape that we have shaped. More than 200 images of industry, agriculture, architecture, and nature highlight incredible patterns while also revealing a deeper story about human impact. This extraordinary photographic journey around our planet captures the sense of wonder gained from a new, aerial vantage point and creates a perspective of Earth as it has never been seen before.

About this title

About the Author

Overview takes its inspiration from Daily Overview—an Instagram project established by author BENJAMIN GRANT. Since he began the project in December 2013, his daily posts have both delighted and challenged his audience from all corners of the globe. For Overview, Grant has curated and created more than 200 original images by stitching together numerous high‑resolution satellite photographs. With each Overview, Grant aims to not only inspire a fresh perspective of our planet but also encourage a new understanding of what human impact looks like. He lives and rides his bike in New York City.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

INTRODUCTION 

This all began with an accident. I was preparing for a meeting of a space club that I started and since the upcoming talk was focused on satellites and how they affect our daily lives, I was playing around on a mapping program. I typed “Earth” into the search bar to see if it would zoom out to show the entire planet. When I pressed enter, to my surprise, it did the opposite of what I hoped for, and zoomed in. 

The map had indeed settled on Earth—Earth, Texas. I was astounded by what I saw. My screen had filled with a stunning patchwork of green and brown circles. I saved the image (seen here on the left) and showed it to my friends; they, too, were amazed. It turns out my entire screen contained pivot irrigation fields, created by sprinklers that water crops in a circular pattern. 

A few months before I discovered Earth in Texas, a friend shared a short film with me called Overview. The film introduced me to the idea of the “Overview Effect”—an idea that changed the way I see our planet and its place in the universe. Coined by Frank White in 1987, the “Overview Effect” refers to the profound emotional sensation that astronauts experience when given the opportunity to look down at Earth from space. From a distant vantage point, one has the chance to appreciate our home as a whole, to reflect on its beauty and its fragility all at once. 

The anecdotes of the astronauts in the film inspired the map search for “Earth” that fortuitously led me astray a few months later. They also helped me realize that there needs to be a dramatic shift in the way our species views our planet before we can truly understand the full extent of our impact. As inspirational as this idea was, I had no clue how I, or anyone for that matter, could make that shift happen. For me, everything changed once I saw those crop circles.

Edition details

• Publisher: Amphoto Books
• Publication date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 039957865X
• ISBN 13: 9780399578656
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 288