The Past from Above

The Past from Above: Aerial Photographs of Archaeological Sites by Georg Gerster, edited by Charlotte Trumpler Summary: The Past From Above presents stunning aerial photographs of 250 of the world's foremost archaeological sites. The photographer, Georg Gerster, has been shooting ancient sites from the air for more than fifty years. In this current collection, his subjects range from the temple complex at Karnak to the Great Wall of China, and from the Acropolis in Athens to Aztec palaces in Mexico. Gerster's photographs are technical achievements--often produced under hair-raising circumstances--in their own right but at the same time offer a unique visual history of mankind stretching back to the dawn of civilization. Charlotte Trumpler introduces the photographs with an overview of the critical role that aerial photography has played in archaeological research. Angie's Comments: These photos are stunning! You get a sense of what the landscape is around the archaeological sites in a way you can’t get on the ground. Gerster’s stories in the front and back of the book give some context as to what it takes to get these photos. At the end of each chapter, there is a brief history of each site. I looked at the photos and read the histories about each site, but you can easily just look at the photos without reading anything. Recommended for people interested in archaeology and/or photography. Request this item