Known for enormous images of deserts, geographic features and mass animal migrations, George Steinmetz is the leading aerial photographer of his time. Now he has turned his lens on New York.

According to Steinmetz, who has tried similar projects in Paris and Shanghai, New York is one of the only cities on earth where this work would have been possible thanks to its permissive aviation policies.

Images courtesy of George Steinmetz. Video by Colm O'Molloy