In Above the Clouds, Scott Mead contemplated the endless horizons outside of a plane’s window and the inner and outer journeys they bring about. Now he turns his gaze back to earth, where the view is just as extraordinary. Inspired by William Eggleston, Mead’s former teacher, this series of paired photographs focuses on composition, texture, light, shadows, and color to show how nature and the built world can mirror and contain each other. Although not always immediately obvious, the qualities these images share and the relationships between them help us see the world with a new perspective, with results that are in turn evocative, exhilarating, and lyrical. Writer and poet Brad Leithauser’s thoughtful and reflective introduction sheds additional light on the complex and joyous interaction between the photographs and the emotions they create.

All royalties from the sale of this book will be donated to the Ukraine Relief Effort.

Text by: Brad Leithauser