<strong>Seat with a view: </strong>Photographer Julieanne Kost has been traveling the world for business for over a decade. Fed up with hotels and conference centers, Kost decided to take advantage of the aerial view of the earth from the plane -- photographing the views below. <em>Photos courtesy of </em><a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjkost.net%2FPhotography" target="_blank" target="_blank"><em>Julieanne Kost</em></a>
Seat with a view: Photographer Julieanne Kost has been traveling the world for business for over a decade. Fed up with hotels and conference centers, Kost decided to take advantage of the aerial view of the earth from the plane -- photographing the views below. Photos courtesy of Julieanne Kost
Courtesy Julieanne Kost
<strong>Creative outlet: </strong>The project provided an artistic outlet for Kost, who was in a creative rut. "When you travel a lot for business everyone thinks it's very glamorous, because you get to go all these places, but most of the time you're in a hotel," Kost tells CNN Travel.
Creative outlet: The project provided an artistic outlet for Kost, who was in a creative rut. "When you travel a lot for business everyone thinks it's very glamorous, because you get to go all these places, but most of the time you're in a hotel," Kost tells CNN Travel.
Courtesy Julieanne Kost
<strong>Flight planning:</strong> Kost started to plan her flights based on the time of day and picking her seat based on the view. Kost frequently traveled across the US and internationally -- photographing the sights she saw.
Flight planning: Kost started to plan her flights based on the time of day and picking her seat based on the view. Kost frequently traveled across the US and internationally -- photographing the sights she saw.
Courtesy Julieanne Kost
<strong>Conquering fears: </strong>"I'm also afraid of flying, so for me it was wonderful to be able to put the camera between me and the ground below [...] it really helped me to disassociate from it," Kost says. "I became an observer instead of a participant in the scene."<br />
Conquering fears: "I'm also afraid of flying, so for me it was wonderful to be able to put the camera between me and the ground below [...] it really helped me to disassociate from it," Kost says. "I became an observer instead of a participant in the scene."
Courtesy Julieanne Kost
<strong>Traveling the world: </strong>"I gradually started accumulating a body of work, so that really pushed me forward as well as far as the momentum goes," Kost says. "And then every time you go out you look for just something unique and different."
Traveling the world: "I gradually started accumulating a body of work, so that really pushed me forward as well as far as the momentum goes," Kost says. "And then every time you go out you look for just something unique and different."
Courtesy Julieanne Kost
<strong>Unique vantage point:</strong> Kost says commercial flights offer a unique vantage point on the Earth's surface: "I'm so fortunate I get to see it," she says. "And I feel so fortunate that I can share that with others."
Unique vantage point: Kost says commercial flights offer a unique vantage point on the Earth's surface: "I'm so fortunate I get to see it," she says. "And I feel so fortunate that I can share that with others."
Courtesy Julieanne Kost
<strong>From film to digital: </strong>When Kost first started her project, she was photographing with film. No one had smart phones, so she tended to be the only passenger photographing the view. "The interesting thing is no one ever asked me what I was doing," she says.
From film to digital: When Kost first started her project, she was photographing with film. No one had smart phones, so she tended to be the only passenger photographing the view. "The interesting thing is no one ever asked me what I was doing," she says.
Courtesy Julieanne Kost
<strong>Digital travel: </strong>Nowadays Kost has branched out to digital -- she even hires private planes and helicopters to take photos with more flexibility.
Digital travel: Nowadays Kost has branched out to digital -- she even hires private planes and helicopters to take photos with more flexibility.
Courtesy Julieanne Kost
<strong>Satellite vision: </strong>First, she checks out the area on Google Earth: "It's a good first spot to start looking, but the satellite imagery isn't always that great, especially in remote locations."
Satellite vision: First, she checks out the area on Google Earth: "It's a good first spot to start looking, but the satellite imagery isn't always that great, especially in remote locations."
Courtesy Julieanne Kost
<strong>Learning the skill: </strong>Kost still travels frequently, so she has had plenty of time to work out how to photograph from the plane window: "There's so many reflections because there's multiple layers in the window, and so you have to make sure there aren't any reflections," she explains.
Learning the skill: Kost still travels frequently, so she has had plenty of time to work out how to photograph from the plane window: "There's so many reflections because there's multiple layers in the window, and so you have to make sure there aren't any reflections," she explains.
Courtesy Julieanne Kost
<strong>Changing views: </strong>Kost even enjoys repeat flights, because no view ever looks the same. "One day it might be clouds and the next day it's mountains and the next day it's farmland," she says.
Changing views: Kost even enjoys repeat flights, because no view ever looks the same. "One day it might be clouds and the next day it's mountains and the next day it's farmland," she says.
Courtesy Julieanne Kost
<strong>Something new:</strong> The photographer is constantly looking for a new angle and a new perspective: "I'll take the same flight from San Francisco to LA, and the flightpath will be so different," says Kost. "Just because of weather or air traffic control, you see something completely new."
Something new: The photographer is constantly looking for a new angle and a new perspective: "I'll take the same flight from San Francisco to LA, and the flightpath will be so different," says Kost. "Just because of weather or air traffic control, you see something completely new."
Courtesy Julieanne Kost
<strong>From plane to page: </strong>Kost published her work as a book -- "Window Seat: The Art of Digital Photography and Creative Thinking." The book is designed to help others find a creative outlet -- particularly if their day job is not fulfilling.
From plane to page: Kost published her work as a book -- "Window Seat: The Art of Digital Photography and Creative Thinking." The book is designed to help others find a creative outlet -- particularly if their day job is not fulfilling.
Courtesy Julieanne Kost
<strong>Artistic inspiration:</strong> "Most creative people go into a creative field because they have all these great ideas and they want to do all this creative work," Kost says, "but that's not always the reality."<br />
Artistic inspiration: "Most creative people go into a creative field because they have all these great ideas and they want to do all this creative work," Kost says, "but that's not always the reality."
Courtesy Julieanne Kost
<strong>Personal goals: </strong>The book suggests developing personal projects, alongside work assignments: "It's really important for people to have these projects they work on just for themselves," says Kost, "to stay motivated and to stay engaged and keep growing and learning."
Personal goals: The book suggests developing personal projects, alongside work assignments: "It's really important for people to have these projects they work on just for themselves," says Kost, "to stay motivated and to stay engaged and keep growing and learning."
Courtesy Julieanne Kost
<strong>Passenger seat: </strong>Kost has also tested out the view from another mode of transport -- the car: "I published the second body of work called passenger seat, it was actually taken from the car, so they're all motion blur."
Passenger seat: Kost has also tested out the view from another mode of transport -- the car: "I published the second body of work called passenger seat, it was actually taken from the car, so they're all motion blur."
Courtesy Julieanne Kost
<strong>Social media: </strong>Now Kost is an active Instagram user, posting a mix of her window images and other snapshots of life as she knows it.<br />
Social media: Now Kost is an active Instagram user, posting a mix of her window images and other snapshots of life as she knows it.
Courtesy Julieanne Kost
<strong>Conflicting views: </strong>But Kost tries not to let the rules of social media affect her photos. "I think social media has a tendency to change what people post if their primary goal is to get likes," she says. "I don't want to change my work just to make it more colorful or popular."
Conflicting views: But Kost tries not to let the rules of social media affect her photos. "I think social media has a tendency to change what people post if their primary goal is to get likes," she says. "I don't want to change my work just to make it more colorful or popular."
Courtesy Julieanne Kost
<strong>Appreciating the little moments: </strong>Kost's photographs eschew the glamor of Instagram -- instead they are about making the most of the everyday -- including the boredom of business travel. "I think there's a lot to be said for just the normality of day-to-day living, those little moments," Kost says.
Appreciating the little moments: Kost's photographs eschew the glamor of Instagram -- instead they are about making the most of the everyday -- including the boredom of business travel. "I think there's a lot to be said for just the normality of day-to-day living, those little moments," Kost says.
Courtesy Julieanne Kost
<strong>Beautiful ordinariness: </strong>This is the crux of Kost's work: "Getting to point A to point B, that's not always the most exciting thing," she says. "But you can find something."
Beautiful ordinariness: This is the crux of Kost's work: "Getting to point A to point B, that's not always the most exciting thing," she says. "But you can find something."
Courtesy Julieanne Kost
Beautiful photos of Earth from a window seat
CNN  — 

Globetrotting for business might sound exciting, but the reality is a lot of time spent staring out of plane windows.

It’s a sentiment that business travelers across the world relate to – including Adobe employee Julieanne Kost.

“When you travel a lot for business everyone thinks it’s very glamorous, because you get to go to all these places,” Kost tells CNN Travel. “But most of the time you’re in a hotel or a taxi or a conference center.”

But for California-based Kost, the airplane window seat became her biggest inspiration.

The traveling executive began photographing the sights she saw out from the window. The photos formed the basis for an ongoing project: “Window Seat,” documenting Kost’s aerial views of the Earth below.

Creative outlet

Kost found photographing from the plane window helped her enjoy flights more.
Kost found photographing from the plane window helped her enjoy flights more.
Courtesy Julieanne Kost

Kost initially started photographing on board airplanes to tackle her fear of flying.

“It was wonderful to be able to put the camera between me and the ground below,” she says. “It really helped me to disassociate from it – I became an observer instead of a participant in the scene.”

Kost was searching for an outlet for her creativity to complement her busy job.

“Most creative people go into a creative field because they have all these great ideas and they want to do all this creative work, but that’s not always the reality,” she says.

“It’s really important for people to have these projects they work on just for themselves to stay motivated and to stay engaged and keep growing and learning.”

MORE: Is business travel ruining your family life?

Plane-sailing

Kost plans her work flights based on time of day and light conditions.
Kost plans her work flights based on time of day and light conditions.
Courtesy Julieanne Kost

Kost quickly realized how much she enjoyed photographing her aerial vistas.

She started to plan her flights based on the time of day – to ensure good light – and picking her seat based on the view.

“Sometimes it was successful and sometimes you just get the seat that you get,” she says. “I really tried hard to get in front of the wing because behind the wing you get the rippling effect from the engines.”

This was back in the days of film, she explains. In this pre-smart phone age, fewer people photographed the view from the plane.

“The interesting thing is no one ever asked me what I was doing, I think they thought maybe it was my first flight ever and I was just so happy!”

Kost’s top tip for taking good photos on commercial flights? Think about the reflection from the multilayered window.

“You have to make sure there aren’t any reflections,” she says, “I would always try and wear some kind of black jacket to reduce the reflection from, say, a white blouse.”

Kost took the photos with her SLR camera, adjusting the lens to avoid photographing the specs of dust on the glass.

MORE: Aviator’s rare photos reveal a bygone world

Showcasing her work

Kost documents her work on her blog and Instagram.
Kost documents her work on her blog and Instagram.
Courtesy Julieanne Kost

Kost began curating her collection of Window Seat image is the early 2000s, before social media had truly taken off.

“They were just personal, ” she says. “It was before I had a blog.”

Gradually she started accumulating a body of work and considered sharing the images online.

“Back then it was much more expensive because you had film and then you got them developed,” she recalls. “Then I bought a scanner and scanned them in. “

But she was proud of the finished products – and even enjoyed her repeat trips.

“I’m always amazed – I’ll take the same flight from San Francisco to LA, and the flightpath will be so different, ” she says. “Just because of weather or air traffic control, you see something completely new.

“Every time you go out you look for just something unique and different. One day it might be clouds and the next day it’s mountains and the next day it’s farmland, while you get this larger and larger volume of images.”

MORE: Best drone photos from Dronestagram’s 2017 contest

From film to digital

Today Kost also takes higher-quality images from helicopters and private planes.
Today Kost also takes higher-quality images from helicopters and private planes.
Courtesy Julieanne Kost

Kost, who runs regular Photoshop workshops for Adobe, decided to publish the photographs in a book: “Window Seat: The Art of Digital Photography and Creative Thinking.”

The book showcases Kost’s collection, but is also designed to help others find a creative outlet if they are feeling unfulfilled.

Now Kost has branched out into digital photography – and her aerial photographs have taken a step up too.

She occasionally hires a helicopter or small plane with the doors off and photographs the local California landscape from the sky. But she still travels frequently on regular flights for work.

Kost is grateful for the opportunities her business travel has afforded her – particularly the privilege of seeing the Earth from the air:

“We don’t see the world from that vantage point often, I’m so fortunate I get to see it and I feel so fortunate that I can share that with others.”

MORE: #CNNInTheAir: Photos from the window seat

The beautiful ordinary

Kost tries to find the beauty in the everyday.
Kost tries to find the beauty in the everyday.
Courtesy Julieanne Kost

Kost is also active on Instagram, but she eschews the false glamor of social media in favor of finding: “Those little moments in the day that are beautiful and meaningful.”

“I think social media has a tendency to change what people post if their primary goal is to get likes,” she reflects. “I think there’s a lot to be said for just the normality of day-to-day living, those little moments.”

This mantra is the crux of Kost’s work: “Getting to point A to point B, that’s not always the most exciting thing,” she says, “But you can find something.”