New Robert Cameron Aerial Photo Exhibit Opens at Presidio

Presidio of San Francisco (May 15, 2007) — The Presidio Trust is proud to host a new exhibit of photographs by renowned aerial photographer Robert Cameron. The stunning exhibit will be at the Presidio Officers’ Club from May 18 through August 26, 2007 and will be accompanied by free Wednesday evening programs.

The photographs, taken from a helicopter, focus on the natural environment and include bird’s eye views of forests, mountains, deserts and cities. They cover the western United States, as well as Hawaii and Alaska. Many of the dramatic photos are six feet tall and ten feet wide.

Cameron, who has been taking aerial photographs since 1969, was interested in the changes he has seen over the years as a result of human interaction with the environments he photographed, “I wanted to capture the existing natural beauty, but also show how the environment has been shaped by man,” Cameron explained.

The large format photographs provide an expansive view of these changes. In one striking photo, the viewer sees the snaking line of windmills that line the hills along the Altamont Pass in California. The windmills go on for miles, continuing off into the horizon.

“Cameron’s aerial technique results in amazing photos that allow the viewer to share his unique perspective,” said Craig Middleton, Presidio Trust Executive Director. “We are proud to host this amazing exhibit at the Presidio.”

Cameron’s photographic career began in 1933 as a news photographer. He is known internationally through his series of books including Above San Francisco, Above Paris, and Above Washington D.C. His latest book is Above Mexico City. Cameron’s previous exhibition at the Presidio, From Above: A Robert Cameron Retrospective, attracted 26,000 visitors. Environmental Journey features very large prints that have never been exhibited before from new digitally transferred negatives.

The Presidio Officers’ Club Exhibition Hall is located at 50 Moraga Avenue in the Presidio. The exhibit will be open Wednesday – Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm.

A speaker series, Environmental Journey: Crisis and Responses will kick-off with An Inconvenient Truth: One Year Later presented by one of Al Gore’s Climate Messengers on June 6.

The Presidio Trust was established by the United States Congress in 1994 to manage the Presidio of San Francisco, a former army base located in San Francisco at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge. The 1,500-acre site contains the infrastructure of a small city as well as expansive open space, a 300-acre historic forest, spectacular views, and rare and endangered plants and wildlife. It comprises nearly 6 million square feet of buildings, including 469 historic structures that contribute to its status as a National Historic Landmark District, making it unlike any other national park. In establishing the Trust, Congress mandated that it make the park financially self-sufficient by 2013. The Trust is the only federal agency with this mandate. The Presidio Trust Management Plan sets the framework for the Presidio’s financial and preservation goals.