Bernhard Lang has created a formidable body of work by looking down on society. The <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bernhardlang.de%2FWebsite%2FAVAlle.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">Munich-based photographer's</a> aerial images, taken from 490 to 4920 feet in the air, capture the unexpected geometry and patterns of everyday life. Whether he's shooting Mediterranean beaches or suburban parking lots, the results are both dazzling and dizzying. By <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.twitter.com%2Fallyssiaalleyne" target="_blank" target="_blank"><strong>Allyssia Alleyne</strong></a>, for CNN
This photographer captures the eerie geometry of everyday life —
Bernhard Lang has created a formidable body of work by looking down on society. The Munich-based photographer's aerial images, taken from 490 to 4920 feet in the air, capture the unexpected geometry and patterns of everyday life. Whether he's shooting Mediterranean beaches or suburban parking lots, the results are both dazzling and dizzying. By Allyssia Alleyne, for CNN
Courtesy Bernhard Lang
Lang takes his aerial photos while suspended from small planes and helicopters. When the aircraft reaches the desired altitude, Lang, secured to the vehicle with a safety belt, leans his upper body out of the plane, face down, so that he can shoot from a perfectly vertical angle. Is it dangerous? "Not really, if the belt is okay. It's just that if the belt opens, it wouldn't be," Lang says laughing.
This photographer captures the eerie geometry of everyday life —
Lang takes his aerial photos while suspended from small planes and helicopters. When the aircraft reaches the desired altitude, Lang, secured to the vehicle with a safety belt, leans his upper body out of the plane, face down, so that he can shoot from a perfectly vertical angle. Is it dangerous? "Not really, if the belt is okay. It's just that if the belt opens, it wouldn't be," Lang says laughing.
Courtesy Bernhard Lang
He's used to questions about whether or not his images -- which are often unexpectedly symmetrical, repetitive and graphic -- are in some way manipulated. For the most part, he tries to restrict his editing to things like adjusting contrast or straightening the image. "I don't change or mount anything there."
This photographer captures the eerie geometry of everyday life —
He's used to questions about whether or not his images -- which are often unexpectedly symmetrical, repetitive and graphic -- are in some way manipulated. For the most part, he tries to restrict his editing to things like adjusting contrast or straightening the image. "I don't change or mount anything there."
Courtesy Bernhard Lang
For Lang, the primary challenge with shooting from the air is focusing on the camera while in constant motion. Though he's grown accustomed to this over time (he estimates that he's done 10 to 15 aerial shoots over the last four years), he admits to feeling nauseous his first time, thanks in no small part to his poor choice of pilot. "I had a pilot who hadn't flown for a long time, and he was not accustomed to the plane. We even had trouble with the landing ... This was really more frightening than leaning out on the belt."
This aerial photographer captures the eerie geometry of everyday life —
For Lang, the primary challenge with shooting from the air is focusing on the camera while in constant motion. Though he's grown accustomed to this over time (he estimates that he's done 10 to 15 aerial shoots over the last four years), he admits to feeling nauseous his first time, thanks in no small part to his poor choice of pilot. "I had a pilot who hadn't flown for a long time, and he was not accustomed to the plane. We even had trouble with the landing ... This was really more frightening than leaning out on the belt."
Courtesy Bernhard Lang
Lang, who has been working as a photographer since 1993, first started taking aerial photos four years ago. Before that, he specialized in commercial photography, typically for sports teams and a news wire service.
This photographer captures the eerie geometry of everyday life —
Lang, who has been working as a photographer since 1993, first started taking aerial photos four years ago. Before that, he specialized in commercial photography, typically for sports teams and a news wire service.
Courtesy Bernhard Lang
His foray into aerial photography was inspired by the vistas outside his window on passenger flights. He remembers being particularly captivated by snowy landscapes during a flight from Tokyo to Munich that took him over Siberia, and the vast deserts he saw on a flight to South Africa. "It was very impressive to see these structures from 10,000 meters above ... the landscapes, the huge rivers. I was always interested in seeing the patterns ... These all looked like paintings to me."
This photographer captures the eerie geometry of everyday life —
His foray into aerial photography was inspired by the vistas outside his window on passenger flights. He remembers being particularly captivated by snowy landscapes during a flight from Tokyo to Munich that took him over Siberia, and the vast deserts he saw on a flight to South Africa. "It was very impressive to see these structures from 10,000 meters above ... the landscapes, the huge rivers. I was always interested in seeing the patterns ... These all looked like paintings to me."
Courtesy Bernhard Lang
Ultimately, Lang hopes that his images will make people question their current way of seeing the world. "(In my photos) you see things that are different and sometimes revealing, because you don't usually see it from this (uncommon) perspective."
This photographer captures the eerie geometry of everyday life —
Ultimately, Lang hopes that his images will make people question their current way of seeing the world. "(In my photos) you see things that are different and sometimes revealing, because you don't usually see it from this (uncommon) perspective."
Courtesy Bernhard Lang
With his images of the Hambach opencast mine, the largest open pit coal mining site in Germany, Lang hoped to highlight the exploitation of natural resources and the physical impact of mining, which he believes most people aren't aware of. "You don't get to see this place in this way -- how they explore the soil or the earth, the resources. It can be revealing."
This photographer captures the eerie geometry of everyday life —
With his images of the Hambach opencast mine, the largest open pit coal mining site in Germany, Lang hoped to highlight the exploitation of natural resources and the physical impact of mining, which he believes most people aren't aware of. "You don't get to see this place in this way -- how they explore the soil or the earth, the resources. It can be revealing."
Courtesy Bernhard Lang
Though he'd seen footage of residents displaced by the mine (in 2012, it was about 1,214 feet deep, and over 9 million square feet wide), and shots from around the coal mine, he saw very little that gave an idea of just how big its footprint was. "And of course I have seen the huge reclaimers from the ground, so I thought the huge dimensions might look really interesting ... It was really like an abstract painting."
This photographer captures the eerie geometry of everyday life —
Though he'd seen footage of residents displaced by the mine (in 2012, it was about 1,214 feet deep, and over 9 million square feet wide), and shots from around the coal mine, he saw very little that gave an idea of just how big its footprint was. "And of course I have seen the huge reclaimers from the ground, so I thought the huge dimensions might look really interesting ... It was really like an abstract painting."
Courtesy Bernhard Lang
But he's not opposed to people enjoying his work on a purely aesthetic level either. In fact, he was delighted when Albert Kriemler, head designer at the Swiss fashion brand Akris, approached him about incorporating two of his aerial photos -- one of a football pitch, the other of a beach scene -- into Akris Punto's Cruise 2014 collection. "It has been an honor for me," Lang says. "The clothes really looked great, and the photos have been inserted perfectly by the Akris designers."
But he's not opposed to people enjoying his work on a purely aesthetic level either. In fact, he was delighted when Albert Kriemler, head designer at the Swiss fashion brand Akris, approached him about incorporating two of his aerial photos -- one of a football pitch, the other of a beach scene -- into Akris Punto's Cruise 2014 collection. "It has been an honor for me," Lang says. "The clothes really looked great, and the photos have been inserted perfectly by the Akris designers."
Courtesy Bernhard Lang
While the photos project a certain simplicity, a lot of work goes on behind the scenes to make them possible, from scouting locations to chartering air crafts. But in Lang's experience, finding the right pilot is the most difficult part. "Of course here around Munich I have pilots, and I just have to wait for the right weather and the availability of the pilot. But in other places, it could take a few weeks, four to five weeks, or maybe longer."
This photographer captures the eerie geometry of everyday life —
While the photos project a certain simplicity, a lot of work goes on behind the scenes to make them possible, from scouting locations to chartering air crafts. But in Lang's experience, finding the right pilot is the most difficult part. "Of course here around Munich I have pilots, and I just have to wait for the right weather and the availability of the pilot. But in other places, it could take a few weeks, four to five weeks, or maybe longer."
Courtesy Bernhard Lang
In August, Lang focused his lens outside of his native Germany for the first time, capturing the scenes at an Italian beach resort on the Adriatic coast which, to him, seemed quite exotic. "In Germany, we won't have this kind of beach resort ... with these colorful umbrellas."
This photographer captures the eerie geometry of everyday life —
In August, Lang focused his lens outside of his native Germany for the first time, capturing the scenes at an Italian beach resort on the Adriatic coast which, to him, seemed quite exotic. "In Germany, we won't have this kind of beach resort ... with these colorful umbrellas."
Courtesy Bernhard Lang
It was in Italy that Lang discovered how even the best laid plans could be thwarted. Leading up to his shoot, the local forecast had called for all-day sunshine. In reality, the sky completely clouded over after only half an hour of shooting. "I said, oh that's not good, because I put a lot of money in -- I chartered the pilot, the machines, the plane, the travel costs."
This photographer captures the eerie geometry of everyday life —
It was in Italy that Lang discovered how even the best laid plans could be thwarted. Leading up to his shoot, the local forecast had called for all-day sunshine. In reality, the sky completely clouded over after only half an hour of shooting. "I said, oh that's not good, because I put a lot of money in -- I chartered the pilot, the machines, the plane, the travel costs."
Courtesy Bernhard Lang
However, when he was going through his images afterward, he was relieved to see that many of them had turned out beautifully regardless of the weather. He says he's come to expect these pleasant surprises. "I'm always surprised by myself. You never know exactly what you will see from above, or what it will look like. It's always interesting."
This photographer captures the eerie geometry of everyday life —
However, when he was going through his images afterward, he was relieved to see that many of them had turned out beautifully regardless of the weather. He says he's come to expect these pleasant surprises. "I'm always surprised by myself. You never know exactly what you will see from above, or what it will look like. It's always interesting."
Courtesy Bernhard Lang