The good, the bad, and the ugly of humans' impact on the Earth, in 13 aerial photos.
Ben Grant was looking for satellite images of planet Earth. Instead, he found himself looking at Earth, Texas.
Photo by Ben Grant, used with permission.
While working at a brand consulting firm in New York a few years back, Grant started a space club "as an excuse to bring people together to eat lunch," he says. For one session, he tried to pull some satellite images so the group could talk about how satellites work.
"I thought if I typed in the word 'Earth,' Apple Maps would zoom out and show the entire planet, but it actually went to Earth, Texas," Grant says.
Suddenly, his screen was filled with a strange pattern. Hundreds and hundreds of perfect circles, evenly spaced, in some kind of divine pattern. They were irrigation fields, he says, but he had never seen anything like it before.
Inspired by his accidental aerial discovery, Grant started investigating the overview effect: The idea that seeing our world in its entirety can give us a new understanding of what it means to be alive.
The term is typically reserved for astronauts who get the life-changing experience of viewing the entire Earth at once from space, but Grant wondered if he could feel the same thing by viewing the most miraculous and mesmerizing satellite images he could find.
From there, the Daily Overview was born: A project where Grant would show the world the most stunning man-made landscapes on the planet.
"I didn't know what that meant or if it'd be showing the negative or the positive or everything in between, but it just started from there," he says.
Here are some of Grant's favorite shots, painstakingly stitched together from raw satellite data and color-enhanced to give us a completely fresh perspective on human impact.
1. Irrigated fields in Earth, Texas. The photo that started it all.
Photo by Benjamin Grant/Satellite Images (c) DigitalGlobe, Inc.
2. The Gemasolar Thermosolar plant near Seville, Spain.
Photo by Benjamin Grant/Satellite Images (c) DigitalGlobe, Inc.
3. Tulip fields near Lisse, Netherlands.
Photo by Benjamin Grant/Satellite Images (c) DigitalGlobe, Inc.
4. The Port of Antwerp in Belgium.
Photo by Benjamin Grant/Satellite Images (c) DigitalGlobe, Inc.
5. The villas of Marabe Al Dhafra in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Photo by Benjamin Grant/Satellite Images (c) DigitalGlobe, Inc.
6. A water community in Delray Beach, Florida.
Photo by Benjamin Grant/Satellite Images (c) DigitalGlobe, Inc.
7. A highway interchange in Jacksonville, Florida.
Photo by Benjamin Grant/Satellite Images (c) DigitalGlobe, Inc.
8. A community in Sun Lakes, Arizona.
Photo by Benjamin Grant/Satellite Images (c) DigitalGlobe, Inc.
9. Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Photo by Benjamin Grant/Satellite Images (c) DigitalGlobe, Inc.
10. Burning Man festival in Black Rock Desert, Nevada.
Photo by Benjamin Grant/Satellite Images (c) DigitalGlobe, Inc.
11. An airplane graveyard in Victorville, California.
Photo by Benjamin Grant/Satellite Images (c) DigitalGlobe, Inc.
12. A section of the Empty Quarter, the world's largest sand desert, in Saudi Arabia.
Photo by Benjamin Grant/Satellite Images (c) DigitalGlobe, Inc.
13. And drainage systems around the Shadegan lagoon in Iran.
Photo by Benjamin Grant/Satellite Images (c) DigitalGlobe, Inc.
Grant says that while the pictures have gotten a lot of attention for being beautiful, he's most proud of how his project has made people stop and think.
"When people think about climate change or the way we're impacting the planet, they often think of trees being cut down or icebergs melting or heat rising off the pavement," he says. "That's kind of overdone now. People don't even see that image anymore."
The Daily Overview, he says, offers a different perspective of human impact: the good, the bad, and everything in between. It catches people's attention with mesmerizing images, then makes them ask questions and think about what they're seeing. And, at least Grant hopes, "that leads to people acting in service of the planet."
"There's something powerful in looking at the world this way, and it's changed people," Grant says. "I hope the work that I'm doing continues to change people."
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12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.