Although I have of fear of heights, I am obsessed with photographing out of a helicopter. It’s such a freeing experience to witness the world from a bird’s eye view. The patterns on the Earth are gorgeous and worth seeing from this vantage point.
These photographs were all taken out of a helicopter on a family trip to Kenya & Tanzania with my husband and three children. On our first flight, we took off from Laikipia and explored northern Kenya. It was challenging to photograph the Earth below with the kids in the helicopter because at different times, different children were getting airsick, so I was balancing taking care of them while photographing! These first three images were photographed near the Suguta Valley in the Chalbi desert. This is a very inaccessible area and beautiful to witness from above. It can also be one of the hottest areas in the world.
The rest of these images were taken on a solo helicopter trip from Amboseli, Kenya to Nairobi. Many of these images are over Lake Natron, which is on the Tanzania/Kenya border & Lake Magadi. I was astounded by the beautiful patterns on the water and ground below. Such beauty from above!
Kristen Griffin
Kirsten Griffin began her career as a journalist on the 24/7 news cycle. With a passion for documenting the world, she eventually transitioned to photography.
Now an award-winning fine arts photographer, Kirsten travels to remote locations, from Iceland to Kenya, and from the Camargue region of France to the western United States, to capture untamed beauty. She finds joy in connecting with her subjects while creating art in the process.
Kirsten has received numerous awards, and her work is displayed in private collections throughout the United States. She lives in Oklahoma City with her husband and three children.
kirstengriffin.com