The Rio Earth Summit in 1992 changed my life completely, turning me into an activist. From the air, you see things you can't see from the ground - you really understand the impact of man, even in a place you know well. My work is meant to convince people we can no longer live like this.

The lions taught me photography. They taught me patience and the sense of beauty, a beauty that penetrates you.

The key of 'The Earth from Above,' and of 'Home' is to show the beauty of the planet, and thereby to promote love for it.

The Earth is Art, The Photographer is only a Witness.

The West has become the world model; developing countries are dreaming of living like us, which is impossible. They should reject our model, because it is not sustainable. Developing countries should even give us the example, but unfortunately that's not what happens.

Will we be able to imagine a new culture of water?

I always take hundreds and hundreds of pictures. I used to work for National Geographic, and they gave us a lot of film.