Stas Bartnikas’ photography transcends the earthly realities captured in every image. Shot from an aerial perspective, his photographs of vast landscapes, urban settings, and nature alternate between true-to-life and abstract compositions. The Russian-born photographer’s calculated approach invariably depends on his own intuition and invoked response. Observing for hours from a small plane, helicopter, or trike, he looks upon the Earth’s surface, awaiting the impulse to take a picture. “It means that this is the place with which I have an emotional and energetic resonance, and that shot will clearly reflect my own state and the energy of the place,” he says. By use of a medium format camera, Bartnikas encapsulates these energies and our planet’s untouched beauty before modern-day environmental issues seize control. “My role as a photographer and a human on this planet is to capture the most extraordinary and powerful places on Earth and share its essence with the world.”

Bartnikas is the recipient of over 200 photography awards; several from the National Geographic Travel Awards and Siena International Photo Awards. He received his BA in Journalism from Moscow State and worked in the field before beginning his self-taught photography journey eight years ago. Today he is a contributor for the National Geographic Your Shot project, a juror for several photography contests, and is the owner and CEO of LLC “GOL-Center,” which implements charitable projects to help sick children in cooperation with major companies in Russia.