ThatPainter is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More
What does the world look like from above? SmashingApps’ 2011 gallery, “45 Stunning Examples Of Bird’s Eye View Photography That Captured The Beauty Of Earth,” offers 45 images that answer with river bends, patterned fields, island coastlines, city lights, monumental structures and wildlife seen in the landscape. It is best read as a period inspiration collection—not a current ranking or a guide to aerial-photography equipment.
What the gallery means by bird’s-eye-view photography
In its introduction, An Jay describes bird’s-eye-view photography broadly as photographs made from an elevated position. The camera may be handheld or mounted, with the image triggered remotely or automatically. That is the article’s general description, not a formal photographic standard or a claim about how any particular image in the gallery was made. Read the original SmashingApps gallery.
The elevated viewpoint changes what a photograph emphasizes: instead of meeting a subject at eye level, the viewer can see its outline, arrangement and relationship to the surrounding terrain. The collection’s captions offer a useful way to explore those shifts in perspective.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
#1 Best Overall
- COMPLETE 5-PIECE BRUSH SET FOR EVERY PAINTING TASK — Includes 1 Inch Flat, 1.5 Inch Angle, 2 Inch Flat, 2 Inch Angle Stubby, and 2.5 Inch Angle brush giving you every size professional painters use daily. Get all 5 for less than the price of a single brush from hardware store brands — professional grade performance at a fraction of the cost. Perfect for walls, trim, cabinets, doors, furniture, and detailed cutting-in work on any project.
- ZERO BRISTLE LOSS — GUARANTEED BY PRECISION ADHESIVE BONDING — Every bristle is locked in place with precision-set adhesive that keeps them in the brush — not in your paint job. The coated steel ferrule provides structural support while the adhesive bond ensures clean performance on every stroke. Premium SRT synthetic filaments load more paint and release it evenly for a smooth streak-free finish on walls, ceilings, and trim. Works with latex, oil-based paint, primer, sealer, and wood stain.
- INCLUDES THE ANGLE STUBBY MOST SETS LEAVE OUT — Professional painters know the 2 Inch Angle Stubby is the go-to brush for tight cabinet interiors, window sashes, inside corners, and detailed trim where standard angle brushes are too long. Combined with the 1.5 and 2.5 inch angle sash brushes you have precision cutting-in covered at every scale — baseboards, crown molding, door casings, and ceiling lines.
- FLAT BRUSHES FOR BROAD SMOOTH COVERAGE ON ANY SURFACE — The 1 and 2 inch flat brushes deliver even coverage on walls, furniture, shelving, doors, fences, decks, and wood surfaces. Ideal for applying primers, stains, varnishes, polyurethane, and specialty coatings. Solid wood handles provide all-day comfort and control for both professional contractors and weekend DIY homeowners tackling interior or exterior painting projects.
- TRUSTED BY PROFESSIONAL PAINTERS AND CONTRACTORS NATIONWIDE — Pro Grade delivers professional-grade results at a price that makes sense for crews who go through brushes on every job. Ideal for property managers, remodeling contractors, apartment turnover crews, maintenance teams, and commercial painting operations. Backed by thousands of verified reviews from working painters. Washable and reusable for multiple projects.
What the 45 photographs show from above
Land patterns and flowing water
Rivers and watersheds become sweeping lines across the land, while agricultural plots form repeating patterns. The captions include the Orinoco and Amazon rivers and the Palouse Patchwork. Seen from above, these subjects invite the eye to follow a curve or compare adjacent shapes rather than focus on a single foreground detail.
Islands, coasts, waterfalls and ice
Water gives the aerial view a different kind of structure: the borders between land and sea, the shape of an island, or the movement of a waterfall can become the photograph’s main subject. The gallery’s named examples include Mnemba Island and Iguazu waterfalls, alongside reservoirs, coastlines and ice.
Rank #2
- Great Value Pack Artist Paint Brushes: Soucolor 20 brushes in 10 sizes professional paintbrushes set — no shedding, holds paint well, cleans easily, Acrylic, watercolor, oil, gouache, Halloween pumpkin decoration & face painting, rock painting, ceramics. Fantastic high quality gifts for creative, artistic siblings to share!
- Awesome Set of Paint brushes: Professional paint brushes can cover all of your needs. The multi-purposed brushes are ideal for Watercolor, Oil, Gouache, enamel, Acrylic Painting, Body, Nail, Face Painting, Miniature, Model, Wood, Glass, Cup, Ceramic, Fine work, Art class, Craft Art Painting, DIY Art Crafts etc.
- Soft and long-lasting: The bristles are soft and strong, with nickel metal ferrules and blue wooden handles. After cleaning, the bristles will become soft and fluffy again and will not fall off.
- Easy to clean: it’s very convenient to Wash well in soap and water. Retain shape after drying. the brushes hold up very well. Nice selection to beginners and professionals. Keep them clean and they last a long time.
- Halloween Pumpkin Ceramic Crafts Supplies: A Great painting gift for family, friends, kids, girls, women, student, classmate, teacher. For using in school, travel or used in the home and office.
Buildings and infrastructure
Elevated photographs can make human construction read as geometry within a larger landscape. The collection ranges from the Louvre pyramid and Arecibo radio telescope to roads, ports and city scenes. A familiar building or engineered structure may appear less like an isolated object and more like one part of a designed site.
Wildlife in its surroundings
Animals viewed from above occupy a different scale in the frame: the viewer sees not only the animal but also where it sits in the wider environment. One caption features elephants at Lake Amboseli, placing wildlife among the gallery’s broader mix of landscape subjects.
Rank #3
- 【All sizes of art brushes】: The 10 sizes of multi-functional brushes have various shapes, making the mixing color easier, which is very suitable for artists, students, teenagers, children and painters at all levels. Wonderful Present ideas for friends and family who like painting!
- 【general brush set】: Professional paint brush can meet all your needs. Multifunctional brush is very suitable for watercolor, oil, gouache, acrylic painting, body, nail, face painting, miniature, model, ceramics, arts and crafts painting, etc.
- 【high quality process】: It is designed with anti falling bristles, anti-rust nickel ferrule and solid wood handle. You can use the brush to focus on the painting and always be creative.
- 【easy to maintain】: After using the brush, it is very convenient to clean the brush with warm soapy water and reshape the tip of the brush. Air dry the brush and place it on top of the top for long use.
- 【100% satisfaction guarantee - buy now】1 packs of set brushes, you can also get friendly customer service, any questions feel free to contact us, within 24 hours to help you! There is no risk in buying our paint brush kit.
How to approach it as an inspiration gallery
The collection is useful for studying how viewpoint changes a subject’s visual character. A river can become a graphic line; fields can look like a repeating composition; a building can reveal its relation to a plaza or city; and wildlife can appear as part of a much larger scene. These are ways to organize the examples for viewing, rather than categories named by the original author.
For painters, the same visual questions can inform a composition: what shapes become visible from above, where the strongest pattern lies, and how a small subject relates to the larger scene. The gallery is an inspiration source, not a painting tutorial or a substitute for checking the circumstances and rights attached to an individual image.
Rank #4
- Bates paint brushes come in a convenient 6 pieces with 3 flat and 3 angled bristle styles, including (1”, 1.5”, 2”) flat and (1.5”, 2”, 2.5”) angled bristles, perfect for tackling any surface painting or staining job.
- The sturdy natural bristles of each brush are designed to hold more paint, creating a smoother finish with fewer streaks and saving you time on the job.
- The lightweight wooden handles provide extra comfort and ease during long painting processes like walls, trims, cabinets, and doors.
- These versatile brushes are ready-to-use, easy to clean, and can be reused multiple times, making them economical as well as reliable tools for any painting project.
- Bates paint brushes can be used for both oil-based paints as well as latex stains and are ideal for home or commercial projects such as decks, fences or DIY painting jobs.
Credits, reuse and what the page does not establish
The original page links many captions to external image sources, including Flickr and photography sites. Those links record the credit destinations presented with the gallery; they do not independently verify that a link still works, confirm authorship, or grant permission to reuse an image. Before reproducing a photograph, follow its credit link and confirm the applicable attribution and reuse terms with the rights holder.
Published in 2011, the page is a historical selection of 45 photographs. It does not claim to be a complete survey or a current ranking, and it does not identify recommended cameras, lenses or other equipment.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Quick Recap
Best Value
- 2 Inch Angled Paint Brush for Precision Cutting-In – Designed for clean, sharp lines around trim, baseboards, ceilings, corners, and detailed edge work. The perfect size for control and coverage.
- Value 3-Pack for Pros & DIY Projects – Includes three professional 2-inch angled sash brushes — ideal for contractors, remodelers, and homeowners tackling multiple rooms or repeat paint jobs.
- Smooth Results on Walls, Trim & Cabinets – Great for interior wall painting, cabinet edges, furniture projects, and trim work where a smooth finish and crisp control matter most.
- Works with Latex Paint, Oil-Based Paint & Stains – Premium synthetic filaments hold more paint, reduce streaks, and provide a clean finish with latex paints, oil coatings, and wood stains.
- Works with Latex Paint, Oil-Based Paint & Stains – Premium synthetic filaments hold more paint, reduce streaks, and provide a clean finish with latex paints, oil coatings, and wood stains.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
