Bird's Eye View
The US Bangladesh Foundation and Texeurop have jointly organised a photography exhibition featuring Yann Arthus-Bertrand, a French aerial photographer, filmmaker and environmentalist. The exhibition is supported by the French Embassy in Dhaka.
Bertrand was born in 1946 in Paris. His interests include nature and wildlife. He started to record his observations through the camera. In 1991 Bertrand became a photojournalist and founded Altitude, the leading aerial photography agency in the world. Inspired by the link connecting humankind, wildlife and nature, he joined with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation and has produced documentary-style photography series like “The Earth From Above”, “Wild Animals”, “Horses”, and “365 Days”.
As a photographer, Bertrand employs the power of images to convey universal emotions, understanding and appreciation for our planet and its residents.
To generate awareness on environmentalism among Bangladeshis, a two-month long roving exhibition titled “Earth from Above”, featuring around 100 aerial photographs, is on at the South Plaza of the National Parliament in Dhaka. The exhibition opened on December 19 and will continue till February 19, 2011.
State Minister for Environment and Forests, Hasan Mahmud, inaugurated the exhibition as chief guest, while French Embassy Charge d'affaires Patrick Branco and Bertrand, among others, spoke at the inaugural session. The opening programme was presided over by Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique.
Patrick Branco said, “This event is being held in the aftermath of the Cancun Conference and it gives me the opportunity to inform you all that France will mobilise 1.26 billion euros out of the 7.2 billion, provided by the European Union and the EU member states. As one of the countries more vulnerable to the effects of global warming, Bangladesh will be given priority to have access to this short-term fund.”
The open-air exhibition features several themes related to environment. The exhibit has travelled 152 major cities across the globe. The photographs reflect the variety of natural habitats and expressions of life, and also the human imprint and assault on the earth.
Most of Bertrand's photographs show greenery, cornfield, riverine life, mountains, ethnic life, cattle, wild animals, dead forest, deep blue water and more.
After the inaugural programme, the organisers screened Yann Arthus-Bertrand's documentary film “Home” at the National Parliament premises. The film is almost entirely composed of aerial shots of various places on the planet.
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