Chi Po-lin

（1964 - 2017）

Documentary director, aerial photographer, environmental protection advocate.

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.

  • 1964
  • 1990
  • 1998
  • 1999
  • 2003
  • 2004
  • 2005
  • 2006
  • 2009
  • 2011
  • 2012
  • 2013
  • 2014
  • 2015
  • 2016
  • 2017
  • 1964

    Born in Taipei City, Taiwan.

    Chi Po-lin started learning and fell in love with photography in high school.
  • 1990

    Worked at the National Expressway Engineering Bureau, and was in charge of the aerial photography of various major construction projects.

    During his service as a public servant, Chi Po-lin photographed the construction of national highways.
  • 1998

    Published aerial photographic works on "The Earth" magazine.

  • 1999

    Published the aerial photography album, "Homeland from Above".

  • 2003

    Awarded the grant from the 1st Johnnie Walker – The Keep Walking Fund.

  • 2004

    Published the aerial photography album, "Our Land Our Story".

  • 2005

    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.

    Our Land Our Story is by far the largest-scale outdoor solo photography exhibition in Taiwan.
  • 2006

    Published the aerial photography album, "Taiwan from the Air".

  • 2009

    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.

  • 2011

    Participated in the Public Broadcasting Service’s image commercial, “Free Your Mind,” which won the Channel Ad Award in the 46th Golden Bell Awards.

  • 2012

    Presented "Our Land Our Story", an environmental aerial photography exhibition at the National Taiwan Science Education Center.

    Our Land Our Story - environmental aerial photography exhibition.

    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.

  • 2013

    "Beyond Beauty – TAIWAN FROM ABOVE" premiered, and amassed a box office of NT$ 220 million in Taiwan.

    Outdoor premiere of "Beyond Beauty – TAIWAN FROM ABOVE" at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.

    "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.

    Published the monograph, "Taiwan – Seen with My Heart and Eyes".
  • 2014

    "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.

  • 2015

    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".

  • 2016

    Awarded the Outstanding Contribution Award of the Armed Forces Golden Statues Awards for Literature and Art.

    Presented the aerial photography charity touring exhibition, Formosa.

  • 2017

    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.