(1964 - 2017)
Because of his passion for photography, Chi Po-lin started his photographer career in 1988,
having worked as a commercial photography assistant and a photojournalist for magazines. In
1990, he became a public servant and was in charge of the aerial photography of various major
construction projects in Taiwan. Throughout nearly twenty-five years of doing aerial
photography, the total number of his helicopter flight hours exceeds 2,500 hours, through which
he amassed more than 600,000 aerial photographs, preserving Taiwan’s precious geographic
landscape and ecological environment from
the air.
His documentary, Beyond Beauty – TAIWAN FROM ABOVE, came out in 2013, which not only generated
the highest box office in the documentary history of Taiwan, but also ignited extensive
discussions about the issue of environmental protection among the government, the public, and
the media in Taiwan.
Chi is the author of multiple aerial photography albums, including "Beyond Beauty – Taiwan from
Above" and "Taiwan from the Air", etc., and was in charge of the aerial photography of more than
thirty publications. On June 10, 2017, while preparing "Beyond Beauty – TAIWAN FROM ABOVE II",
Chi and his assistant Chen Kuan-Chi both passed away in a helicopter crash during an aerial
photography trip.
Born in Taipei City, Taiwan.
Worked at the National Expressway Engineering Bureau, and was in charge of the aerial photography of various major construction projects.
Published aerial photographic works on "The Earth" magazine.
Published the aerial photography album, "Homeland from Above".
Awarded the grant from the 1st Johnnie Walker – The Keep Walking Fund.
Published the aerial photography album, "Our Land Our Story".
Served as the spokesperson of the Xinjian mission of “Flying Eye Hospital” by the Orbis International, and participated a blindness-fighting mission in Xinjian.
Presented "Our Land Our Story", an outdoor photography exhibition at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.
Published the aerial photography album, "Taiwan from the Air".
Established “Above Taiwan Cinema, Inc.” to prepare for the making of "Beyond Beauty – TAIWAN FROM ABOVE".
Participated in the aerial photography exhibition, ±2℃ Our Land Our Story, organized by the Taiwan Cultural and Creativity Development Foundation.
Participated in the Public Broadcasting Service’s image commercial, “Free Your Mind,” which won the Channel Ad Award in the 46th Golden Bell Awards.
Presented "Our Land Our Story", an environmental aerial photography exhibition at the National Taiwan Science Education Center.
Gave a talk at Ted x Taipei to share the view of Taiwan from the air.
Published the aerial documentary short film, Taiwan from the Air.
Published the personal short film, Google Search: Chi Po-lin.
"Beyond Beauty – TAIWAN FROM ABOVE" premiered, and amassed a box office of NT$ 220 million in Taiwan.
"Beyond Beauty – TAIWAN FROM ABOVE" was awarded “Best Documentary” at the 50th Golden Horse Award.
Aerial Video of Taiwan National Parks Collection was awarded a gold medal at the 46th WorldFest-Houston International Film and Video Festival.
"Beyond Beauty – TAIWAN FROM ABOVE" was awarded the Golden Sun Award at the 21st Festival Internacional de Cinema del Medi Ambient.
"Beyond Beauty – TAIWAN FROM ABOVE" was awarded the Jury Award for Feature-length Documentary and the Gold Medal for Cinematography at the 47th WorldFest-Houston International Film and Video Festival."
Aerial Video of Taiwan National Parks Collection was awarded Best Asian Film at the 7th ART & TUR - International Tourism Film Festival.
Published the photography album, Taiwan from the Air, in Hong Kong.
Awarded the prestigious title, “Jing Mei Zun,” awarded by “The Power of the Image” International Photography Culture Exhibition held in Datong, China.
Invited by National Geographic’s “Taiwanese Explorer Forum” to have a dialogue with the aerial photography master, George Steinmetz.
Published "Beyond Beauty – Taiwan from Above: Collection of Aerial Photography by Chi Po-lin".
Awarded the Outstanding Contribution Award of the Armed Forces Golden Statues Awards for Literature and Art.
Presented the aerial photography charity touring exhibition, Formosa.
Press conference for the launch of "Beyond Beauty – TAIWAN FROM ABOVE II".
Passed away in an aerial photography trip for filming "Beyond Beauty – TAIWAN FROM ABOVE II" in Hualien.
Awarded posthumously the Presidential Citation.
Beyond Beauty: Taiwan from Above—Collection of Aerial Photography published in China.