Rocks, our world

They could have named their book something sexier, but we won’t hold that against the folks at the Kansas Geological Survey, because the photos in their new book kick ass.

Kansas Physiographic Regions: Bird’s-eye Views, by James S. Aber and Susan W. Aber of the Emporia State University earth science department, includes 60 photographs taken from a rarely seen vantage point: between 100 and 500 feet above ground, which is higher than trees but lower than planes are allowed to fly.

So, for example, the already gorgeous Western Kansas formation known as Monument Rocks — which looks like this in regular old photos:

… looks like this in the Abers’ book:

“Photographs in the book highlight the state’s many physiographic regions — distinguishable from each other by differences in geology, landscapes, climate and vegetation,” says the press release KU sent out last week.

According to Jim Aber, “The complexity of the state’s natural and cultural environments is depicted by intricate patterns, textures and relationships that are visible at large scale in our photographs but often not seen on the ground or in conventional air photos or satellite images.”

Adds Susie: “Our photos give the viewer greater appreciation for the sinuous beauty of a meandering stream, the scars left on the landscape from mining natural resources and methodical planning of houses and infrastructure in cities.”

We just think they look cool.

Look at a few more pics and order your own copy here.