Amos Chapple, a celebrated photojournalist from New Zealand, offers a breathtaking perspective of the world with his drone photography series titled ‘Air’. Chapple’s work captures a bird’s-eye view of some of the planet’s most awe-inspiring architectural and natural wonders. His portfolio spans from the intricate streets of New Delhi to the grandeur of Barcelona, presenting views that are typically beyond human reach. The images, taken before drone photography regulations became stringent, showcase landmarks like the Taj Mahal and Saint Petersburg’s Hermitage Pavilion in an entirely new light.
Chapple’s drone voyages occurred during a brief window when aerial photography was less restricted, allowing him to soar above cities and structures without restraint. His photographs not only highlight the beauty of these sites but also reflect a pioneering spirit in drone photography. The series ‘Air’ stands as a testament to the unique opportunities that existed for drone photographers at the time and continues to inspire with its majestic portrayal of the world from above.
I’m a New Zealander who writes and takes photos of ordinary people in extraordinary places. I started off at New Zealand’s largest daily paper in 2003. After two years chasing news I took a full-time position shooting UNESCO World Heritage sites. In 2012 I went freelance but kept up the travel. Since then I’ve been published in most major news titles around the world and my stories have regularly appeared on the front page of Reddit and other viral news platforms. In 2015, photos I shot with a modified drone were compiled into a photo gallery that received more than 6 million page views. After near constant travel through more than 70 countries I’ve experienced almost nothing but decency and goodwill. I respect photojournalists working in conflict areas, but I believe there’s much we haven’t lost or destroyed that warrants an honest representation in news media.
Amos Chapple
More info: Website, Facebook, Instagram (h/t: Bored Panda).
The Hermitage Pavilion, St. Petersburg in autumn mist
Church on Spilled blood, St. Petersburg
St. Peter & Paul Cathedral, Petergof
The Peter & Paul Fortress, Saint Petersburg’s founding point
The Lotus Temple, dotted with pigeons at sunrise. Designed by an Iranian exile, the building serves as the centre of the Bahai’i faith in Delhi
Taj Mahal and gardens as the day’s first tourists trickle in
Two wrestlers practising the ancient Indian sport of Kushti in a pit they had hacked into the ground two hours earlier
Jama Masjid, the heart of Islam in India
Morning over Maximum City
The neatly arranged suburbs around Sagrada Familia, Barcelona
Russian tourists basking on the beach in Abkhazia
The Vittoria Light, overlooking the Gulf of Trieste at sunset
The star fort at Bourtange
Buda castle at night
Clouds swirl through the pillars of Sagrat Cor Church, high on a hill above Barcelona
Paris’ Sacré-Cœur glowing in a hazy sunrise
