Yann Arthus-Bertrand’s photos are not easily forgotten. If you have stumbled across the Frenchman’s open air exhibition in one of the 100 cities it has already toured, you will remember the encounter. His images of the earth from above – from lavender fields in France to coral reefs in Australia – are unique in telling a story. Rather than just “shoot and run”, Arthus-Bertrand documents our amazing environment through its trials and tribulations – every image is accompanied by a detailed story of the place it depicts. For example, it turns out that an exotic-looking island in Queensland has in fact survived various attempts by developers and the building industry to have its forests cut for wood and its sand exported for building purposes. No wonder that in addition to highlighting environmental problems in his images, Arthus-Bertrand has set up a charitable organisation to promote sustainable living.

Arthus-Bertrand’s photos, taken from a helicopter, hail from more than a hundred countries around the world. To take these photos he has spent close to 4000 hours in the air. His project has gone truly global. Now in Sofia, too. To see the photos, visit NDK – the bridge area next to the Hilton – from September 17 until November 18. The exhibition is free.