Catalonia from Above

“Painting is about studying the impression of a pebble falling onto the surface of the water, a bird in flight, the sun receding over the sea or among the mountain pines and laurels.” –Joan Mirò

This quote from the world-famous Catalan painter Mirò, describing his approach to art, served as a guiding principle for famed aerial photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand as he set out to explore Catalonia. This region of northeastern Spain boasts a unique variety of landscapes, from sea to mountains to radiant Barcelona. With his trademark poetry and magic, Arthus-Bertrand captures expansive landscapes as well as intimate experiences in 150 photographs. Ramon Folch’s text introduces us to the history, culture, and key locations in Catalonia.

Yann Arthus-Bertrand is one of the world’s best-known aerial photographers, acclaimed for the international bestseller Earth From Above. He has published 60 books, and since 1995, has been working on a vast project to document the state of the world. Ramon Folch is a former professor at the University of Barcelona, former chair of UNESCO/FLACAM (La Plata), and served as an ecological consultant for UNESCO (Paris).