Earth from Above: 366 Days

Photographer Arthus-Bertrand combines his talent for shooting gorgeous aerial pictures with his commitment to preserving the environment in this edifying illustrated book. The volume's thesis--that""the present levels and methods of consumption, production and exploitation of resources are not viable in the long term""--is developed in an unusual, calendar-inspired format, with a two-page spread for each day of the year. One side presents a landscape photograph, while the facing page contains a short text that describes the image's relation to larger ecological issues. For example, January 8th's picture of a sea ice formation in the Turku archipelago, Finland, is accompanied by the information that the""great warm sea current"" that breaks up the ice every year""may disappear as the climate changes and the Arctic ice cap melts."" On another day, the image of a shining bronze power station in Denmark celebrates the fact that the plant""uses new technologies that reduce toxic emission by up to 80 percent."" The book also includes a few short essays by experts in biodiversity, oceanography, forestry and the like, who explain the steps that would need to be taken in order to rectify the planet's current ecological wounds. Arthus-Bertrand's ability to find beauty in almost everything--his image of brightly-colored Mexican parasols resembles a color-field abstract painting; his swatch of German bottle racks recalls a sweeping mosaic--help make this an elegant and persuasive testament to all that could be lost if conservation strategies are not more fully embraced. 366 full color photos.