Moonlight sleep tight below is the observations from 747 pilot Christian Van Heijst as he cruises across the Atlantic on a clear night.
Christiaan takes up the story.
"One of the joys of night flights is the spellbinding views over moonlit landscapes every now and then. No matter how many times I've been able to enjoy those scenes, moonlight over the clouds or landscapes will always fuel my soul.
"Two weeks ago I was fortunate enough to see the full moon rise over the Atlantic and slowly climb higher in the sky as I cruised east. A nearly cloudless England soon passed by, filled with glowing cities and towns containing millions of people while lunar light reflected from rivers, lakes, and rooftops.
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"When I look down on the world in this captivating state, I can't help but wonder who else down there is looking up at the moon at the same time. Marveling at her rays and energy, couples making love in the bright silver glow or people using it to fuel their creativity in arts and creativity.
"Or perhaps sleepless individuals who manage to catch a glimpse of this celestial sparkle through half-open curtains. Beams of moonshine easing their worries and sorrow for a while, enough to let them drift in a deep and healing sleep.
"I've said it before and I'll probably say it a hundred times over: I wished more people could see those stratospheric views first hand. The overarching beauty from this (quite literally) higher viewpoint is putting everything else in perspective. We are so easily triggered, fighting each other for words or perceived meanings, losing track of context, backgrounds, and history. I can only hope my photos show the bigger picture and ease the tensions as much as a monthly dose of enchanting moonlight can do.
"Regardless of my thousands of hours in the air, I still consider myself extremely privileged to see the world from this perspective. Especially these days, with the world of aviation facing its worst crisis ever and so many pilots wondering if they will ever fly again.
And yet, here I am.
"The Flying Dutchman in the Queen of the Skies. Suspended between the stars and the Earth, camera at hand and documenting my adventures as they come."
Christiaan is one of the world’s leading aviation photographers and more of his work and more close encounter (s) from his 747 can be found here.
You can follow Christiaan on Instagram here: @jpcvanheijst
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