Higher Aspect Column in Nat Geo

Aerial Aerial Photography environment Layout Magazine design national geographic photogrraphy

Milan Radisics

Higher Aspect column in

National Geographic

Higher Aspect refers to a year-long column that appeared in 12 consecutive issues of the Hungarian Edition of National Geographic. The standard format is to use aerial images on the opening spread with a text block on the third or fifth page. The opener works as both document and abstraction with a strong background story. On the text page, we share stats about the places, background stories, the ecological / nature conservation angle, and the photographic method. The common thread of these stories is the human impact on the environment.

Edit is winner on Hungarian Press Photo 2021

Phosphogypsum Deposite Site - 2020 01 Higher Aspect - Opener Spread

Abandoned ponds used for the disposal and stacking of phosphogypsum as by-product of fertilizer production with shallow, but highly toxic radioactive green water covering the whole marsh in Huelva, Southern Spain.

Mud Chimney - 2020 02 Higher Aspect - Opener Spread

A canal that leads inland waters into the lake, but from the air we can see that also continuously carries the mud there. It’s not polluting, but it does change the lake’s ecosystem.

Disappearing Glacier - 2020 03 Higher Aspect - Opener Spread

Hoffellsjökull is an outlet glacier which flows from the ice cap of Vatnajökull, located in the southern region of Iceland. The glacier was greatest in size around one hundred years ago, and for the next fifty years, it drifted to the moraine ridge now situated in front of it. Local residents would drive up onto this ridge and fill trucks with glacial ice used for chilling fish, both onshore and at sea.

Due to climate changes, Hoffellsjökull has retreated a considerable distance. A deep lake is rapidly developing in the depression left behind. It will continue to grow as the glacier retreats.

Solar plant around the clock - 2020 05 Higher Aspect - Opener Spread

Concentrated solar power plant with a molten salt heat storage system, and the first in the world that can producing energy 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Seville, Spain.

The first commercial-scale plant in the world applying central tower receiver thermal storage technology with a single thermal fluid which is a molten salt. 2650 heliostats, or mirrors, perfectly angled to the one fixed collector, heating up salt located in tower up to the 500°C, to generate the steam to produces electrical energy. The heat accumulated during the sun hours is stored in the molten-salt tank, and it permits the production of electricity in the absence of solar radiation.

On this way the 19.9 MW Gemasolar plant supplies clean and safe energy to the 27500 households, reducing CO2 emissions by more than 28000 t/year.

Eye of the forest - 2020 06 Higher Aspect - Opener Spread

Fall colours blaze out in concentric rings around a dystrophic forest lake surrounded by peatbog. From the air we can witnessing how water narrows and the shape which reminds the Egyptian eye. Area is a natural habitat for wolves and bears because during the hiking to the site I hummed loudly to keep myself safe. East Pomerania, Baltic region of Poland. Brodnica forest. September 30, 2019.

The dystrophic lakes as a rule are common and natural ecosystems in the north, in condition of the tundra and forest zone where swamps are common and the lakes are fed with large amounts of the allochthonous organic matter. In particular, such are most lakes in the northern areas of Canada, Finland and Russia.

Energy from Matternhorn's Glacier - 2020 07 Higher Aspect - Opener Spread

Glaciers from Swiss mountains delivering water to the accumulation lakes, which supply source for electrical power for 30% of Swiss houses.

Color Orgy in Salt Ponds - 2020 08 Higher Aspect - Opener spread

Salt is extracted in lagoons, from the water through a lengthy process. Over few months, the brines evaporate, concentrate, before they are collected as pure salt crystals. The saturated colors vary from lighter shades of green, orange, vibrant red or harsh pink. It depends on local characteristics of soil, mud, water and microbiology.

Chainsaw Village - 2020 09 Higher Aspect - Opener spread

Origin of chainsaw type of architecture on the sample of the Polish Suloszowa Village.

Plastic Sea that Feeds - 2020 10 Higher Aspect - Opener spread

In Almeria, Spain is the The largest concentration of greenhouses in the world. The crops grown in this giant are produced by a mix of small individual farmers and larger multinationals whose fruits and vegetables fill the produce sections of supermarkets. More than half of the Europe’s demand for fresh fruits and vegetables are grown under the plastic shades but place causing big environmental and social problems also.

Straightened River - 2020 11 Higher Aspect - Opener Spread

One of the Hungarian rivers called Sio, was straightened about 100 years ago to save the lands from the flooding and make it profitable for the landlords. Today it would be an ecological crime.