America from Above

There are many countries with magnificent scenes to be photographed, but none with the diversity of America - from the sunny beaches of Florida, to the rugged, hostile peaks and glaciers of Alaska, and the comfortable magnificence of the Grand Canyon. The landscape of America is indeed unique, and the freedom of flight in America is equally so.

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There are many countries with magnificent scenes to be photographed, but none with the diversity of America - from the sunny beaches of Florida, to the rugged, hostile peaks and glaciers of Alaska, and the comfortable magnificence of the Grand Canyon, and from the island paradise of Hawaii to the desolation of Death Valley. Where else in one country can this complete array of human activity and natural beauty be found? And only in America does the freedom exist for a sky-bum to roam unfettered without a plan, either filed on an official form or outlined in his mind. The pilot-photographer, so inclined, can still go where the pictures and the weather beckon. 'Unique', which is defined as something one-of-a-kind, without equal, is perhaps the most improperly used word in the English language. The landscape of America is indeed unique, and the freedom of flight in America is equally so. AUTHOR: Jim Wark is an aerial photographer who specializes in capturing unusual landscape and cultural images throughout North and Central America. Drawing from his experience as a Naval Aviator and airshow pilot--paired with his reverence for the Earth's geography gained during a career in mining and geology--he set out after retirement in 1990 to document his vision of America from on high. ILLUSTRATIONS: 150 colour photographs