See Chi Po-lin Foundation My Heart My Eyes See Taiwan Cultural and Creative Products

Don't be surprised; this is Taiwan as seen through my heart and my eyes. This land is our home. Only when you witness its beauty and its sorrow can you truly cherish it. Many say Taiwan is small. I ask them, "Have you seen it all?" When you hear the name "Chi Po-lin," you might know him as Taiwan's most celebrated aerial photographer. But you might not know that he actually suffers from a fear of heights and can't even ride a roller coaster. You might also not know that he only photographs Taiwan, and has been doing so for over 20 years. He was once an ordinary civil servant. Yet, three years before his retirement, he resolutely decided to resign, giving up his imminent pension, to embark on an aerial photography documentary project of Taiwan that everyone deemed impossible. What truly lay behind this decision? After 20 years of quiet dedication, Chi Po-lin presents his personal journey to readers for the first time in this book. Through it, we can see the discomforts of high-altitude flight, the difficulties overcome, and even the life-threatening risks endured to capture those breathtaking photographs. How did Chi Po-lin transform from a photographer focused on beautiful images into an observer dedicated to documenting Taiwan's landscapes? What was the catalyst that prompted him to mortgage his property and spend 30 million NTD of his own money on equipment to film a motion picture documentary? How much of the truth, as seen through his heart and eyes, remains unknown to the general public? In 2013, "Beyond Beauty: Taiwan from Above," Taiwan's first aerial documentary directed by Chi Po-lin, was finally completed. The film, showcasing a Taiwan that was stunning, moving, and heartbreaking, deeply impacted every viewer. Many stories not visible in the film are also included in this book, detailing the shooting process of several astonishing scenes, how the rare "human" shots were captured, the reasons for invaluable assistance received, behind-the-scenes accounts of the planning and shooting, and the hardships and expertise required for his first aerial film... Many say Chi Po-lin's journey was arduous and lonely, but he never felt that way. Instead, he considered himself luckier than others, having received help from many people. Through him, one can profoundly feel the power of simple persistence in transforming the impossible into the possible. ※Heartfelt recommendations from: Sisy Chen, Crystal Cheng, Chang Hsiao-yen, Thomas Ch’eng, Lai Ching-sung, Song Wen-chi, O. J. Chinn, Hung Hsiang※ - **"My name is Chi Po-lin, and I only photograph Taiwan, because I have fallen in love with Taiwan's land." --- Chi Po-lin (1964-2017)** - With 25 years, 2,500 flight hours, hundreds of thousands of film negatives and digital images, combined with an incurable romanticism and unparalleled tenacity, Chi Po-lin became Taiwan's wings and the world's eyes. In 2013, Chi Po-lin's first aerial documentary, "Beyond Beauty: Taiwan from Above," moved the entire nation, opening people's eyes to the unknown and spurring action for land conservation. In the early summer of 2017, Chi Po-lin, bearing his mission once more, driven by his affection for the land and his unwavering pursuit of ideals, intended to connect Taiwan with the world through an international perspective in "Beyond Beauty: Taiwan from Above II." However, just two days after the press conference to announce the project, an accident occurred while he was surveying in Hualien, taking with it the master of Taiwanese aerial photography and his unfulfilled ambitions. There is only one Chi Po-lin, and we have lost that uniqueness. Our grief and reluctance to let go are immeasurable, but what we hold dear are his unfinished wishes. Picking up the dream left by Director Chi near the Changhong Bridge, we established the "See Chi Po-lin Foundation" to inherit and continue his legacy, hoping to root Chi Po-lin's spirit in Taiwan and help it flourish! **There is only one Chi Po-lin, or perhaps, everyone can be Chi Po-lin.** From now on, let the "See Chi Po-lin Foundation" be Chi Po-lin's eyes, continuing to watch over our homeland, letting his beliefs influence the world, and transforming you and me into lifelong guardians of Taiwan. Your participation and support will allow the dream that Director Chi dedicated his life to continue to soar. Do you remember the awe and emotion of the first time you saw Taiwan from the perspective of the clouds, the eyes of an eagle, through Director Chi's lens? Now, these precious aerial images will be transformed into cultural and creative products, integrating Taiwan's beauty into our lives and becoming a source of healing! Furthermore, the proceeds from the sale of these cultural and creative products will support the "See Chi Po-lin Foundation," enabling its continued dedication to environmental education and documentation. **Your support will not only allow more people to see the beauty of Taiwan, but also enable the dream that Director Chi Po-lin pursued his entire life to continue to spread its wings!**