French Contemporary Portraits - Photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand

Yann Arthus-Bertrand is one of France’s most famous contemporary photographers and among the world’s most renowned. He is known for his magnificent, bright landscapes of Earth seen “from above,” and is a fighter for humanistic concerns and current environmental protection and sustainability. Born in Paris on March 13, 1946, into a metal-and-jewelry family, he showed an early interest in nature and animals. At age 17, he became an assistant director, then an actor. In 1967, he abandoned film to return to the nature and animals he had dreamed of since childhood, working at a nature reserve in southern France.

In 1976, he and his beloved wife traveled to Africa, the original natural world. In Kenya’s Masai Mara National Park, they studied lion behavior alongside the Maasai, documenting it daily with photography for three uninterrupted years. This sparked a deep passion for photography. He began recording majestic natural beauty from the air via hot air balloon, quickly realizing the power of imagery to communicate. He said, “Photos immediately present everything; no explanation is needed, everyone can understand.”

Returning to France in 1981, he published his first photo book in 1983 featuring his research on lions in Kenya. He became an international photojournalist (for National Geographic, Paris Match, Geo, etc.), focusing on adventure, sports, nature, and animals. He photographed the Dakar Rally ten times, the French Roland-Garros tennis tournament annually, and the Paris Agricultural Salon. He continued reporting on his favorite subjects, such as Diane Fossey’s work and giant gorillas in Rwanda’s mountains. Over 25 years, he published more than 50 photo albums.

In 1991, Yann Arthus-Bertrand founded Altitude Photo Agency, a comprehensive image bank for high-altitude photography. Driven by his love for nature and passion for photography, and with United Nations sponsorship, the spectacular “Earth from Above” series was born in 1994, showcasing Earth’s most beautiful landscapes. In 2000, this series was first presented to the people of Paris. These works toured globally, aiming to “prove that Earth is exceptionally beautiful and attempt to protect the land.” The book “Earth from Above” became the best-selling photography book in the world, translated into 24 languages and selling over three million copies, demonstrating the unimaginable charm and educational impact of these images.

The photographer further dedicated himself to managing Earth’s natural state, believing “everyone has a responsibility toward the land and must protect it within their scope.” With this environmental awareness, he founded the Goodplanet International Organization for Nature Conservation on July 1, 2005, addressing global greenhouse effects and air pollution, and promoting renewable and efficient energy. In 2006, he collaborated with the Ministry of Education and ministers of environment and sustainability to participate in education on environmental protection and sustainability. For his contributions to Earth’s sustainable projects and raising environmental awareness, the French government honored him with a medal in mid-May.

Since 2006, he has regularly featured programs on sustainable land management and environmental protection on French public television, systematically and comprehensively promoting awareness of protecting Earth through rich videos from “Earth from Above.” During the summer vacation of 2007, he organized an extraordinary outdoor exhibition titled “Goodplanet Nature Ecology and Environmental Protection” in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, repeatedly hoping to awaken people’s consciousness of Earth’s sustainability.

What is most admirable about Yann Arthus-Bertrand is his belief that “the photos we take are not for ourselves, but for everyone.” He stated, “Images are meant to be circulated, even on the Internet.” Thus, anyone wishing to view his works can visit his wonderful website, www.yannarthusbertrand.com, anytime, anywhere. The photographer is happy to share his works with everyone.

Note: The “Earth from Above” photography project by Yann Arthus-Bertrand was sponsored unprecedentedly by the United Nations, Fujifilm, and Corbis. Its purpose is to help people understand that the place Earth provides for us to live is the most beautiful, hoping we will manage and maintain it permanently, building consensus on current environmental awareness. Friends who like his photography can visit San Guan for more wonderful pictures at www.bibliomonde.com/auteure/yann-arthus-bertrand.