Alex MacLean is used to seeing the world from up high. The photographer is also a licensed pilot, and he's spent years "sticking his camera out the cockpit" of a small Cessna 182, snapping what he sees below.

The result is an astounding photo essay that pits man-made civilization against nature, animals against industry, and humans against the forces that, from above, are clearly mightier than we'll ever be.

Alex Maclean / Barcroft / Landov Ocean City Amusement Park in Ocean City, Maryland, taken in 2011. Alex Maclean / Barcroft / Landov Floating daisy docks in Chicago, taken in 1999. Alex Maclean / Barcroft / Landov Cars parked at a Nascar event in Richmond, Virginia, taken in 2005. Alex Maclean / Barcroft / Landov Bathers in an Orlando wave pool, taken in 1999. Alex Maclean / Barcroft / Landov Flamingos in Rosolina, Italy, taken in 2009. Alex Maclean / Barcroft / Landov Colorful shipping containers in Portsmouth, Virginia, taken in 2011. Alex Maclean / Barcroft / Landov Surfers behind breaking waves at Sunset Beach in Oahu, Hawaii. Alex Maclean / Barcroft / Landov Commercial logging site in Olympia, Washington, taken in 2005. Alex Maclean / Barcroft / Landov Interchanging flyovers in Albuquerque, New Mexico, taken in 2009. Alex Maclean / Barcroft / Landov Loaded coal train cars in Norfolk, Virginia, taken in 2011.