UNIQUE DOCUMENTARY DIRECTOR QUIT JOB TO PURSUE PASSION OF PHOTOGRAPHY|齊柏林愛攝影 空拍方式記錄重大工程

Chi Po-lin, a former civil servant who quit his job to pursue the documentary project full-time, had over 20 years of experience shooting pictures from helicopters. Passionate about aerial photography, Chi had devoted all his savings and even mortgaged his house just to shoot the documentary "Beyond Beauty: Taiwan from Above," which won the best documentary category at the 50th Golden Horse Awards. Chi said he managed to overcome his acrophobia just to shoot wonderful videos. ==CHI PO-LIN Director (2013.11.24, 50th Golden Horse Awards)== Bird's eye views from above the clouds are to lead us to get an understanding of our homeland. I hope everyone can cherish it and make it better. In 2013, Chi spent NT$90 million and three years, including 400 hours in the air, to complete the award-winning documentary "Beyond Beauty," which provided a view that was unprecedented to many Taiwanese. It was more than 20 years of experience in aerial photography that contributed to Chi's bold attempt to shoot the documentary. A former civil servant, Chi didn't kick off aerial photography of major construction work until he gained recognition from then-director Ou Chin-der for his passion in photography. In 2009, seeing Typhoon Morakot tear through Taiwan while shooting videos on the helicopter, Chi made up his mind to give up his career as a civil servant for 23 years and nearly NT$4 million pensions. He even spent NT$3 million savings and mortgaged his house to fulfill his dream. All the efforts have come to fruition in the end. ==KO I-CHEN, Director== In fact, many Taiwanese want to show "Beyond Beauty" to foreigners. Even we Taiwanese have never viewed this beautiful island from this angle. He also made some criticism, protesting that some people destroyed the land. Now it's gone. There is a photo of a helicopter in Chi's studio, which Chi called "Precious." Before each take-off, Chi would tell this helicopter to behave itself. Admitting having acrophobia, Chi did not even dare to take a rollercoaster, but he would go all for it just for seeing Taiwan again. ==CHI PO-LIN Director== A week earlier before boarding the helicopter, I was distraught and could not even fall asleep at night. I was to board the helicopter six or seven days from now. I was nervous back then. However, once getting on board, I was very much alive again. Having acrophobia, when I was on the top of a building and looked down from above, I was kind of sacred. But I don't feel the same way on the helicopter. ==CHI PO-LIN Director== We are going to Mt. Jade today. Children there are waiting for us. I'm a little nervous. Having experienced several life-and-death moments, Chi once had a close call in the face of strong turbulence at Mt. Jade. Unfortunately, he did not make it this time. However, the image of Taiwan he brought to us has become irreplaceable. TRANSLATED BY：BRYANT CHANG 從事空拍工作長達20多年的齊柏林，早期在交通部國道新建工程局，負責以空拍方式紀錄重大工程，開啟對空拍的熱愛，不惜投入所有積蓄，將房子抵押借貸，開拍電影「看見台灣」，在2013年獲得金馬獎最佳紀錄片，他曾說自己其實有懼高症，每次都怕上飛機，但為了拍攝精彩影像，一次又一次克服恐懼。 ==導演 齊柏林(2013/11/24金馬獎)== 像鳥飛行的視野 像雲一般的高度 來認識我們自己的土地 認識我們的家園 希望大家能夠呵護它 愛護它 讓它變得更美好 2013年，齊柏林以耗資9000萬台幣，花了三年時間，累積400小時直升機飛行時數的「看見台灣」，奪下金馬獎最佳紀錄片獎項，這是許多台灣人從來不曾看過的台灣視角，這也是齊柏林累積了20多年的空拍經驗，才敢做的豪賭！齊柏林本來是交通部國道新建工程局的公務員，原本擔任行政工作，但因喜歡攝影，受當時局長歐晉德賞識，開始以空拍方式紀錄重大工程。 在2009年八八風災後，齊柏林坐著直升機深入災區拍攝，在影像中看到台灣環境滿目瘡痍，決定離開23年的公職，放棄近400萬的退休金，拿出自己300萬的積蓄投入拍攝，還將房子抵押，一路找錢，為了理想，嘗盡苦頭，但最後成果豐碩。 ==聲音來源 導演 柯一正== "看見台灣"其實讓很多台灣人 都想把這個片子 帶去給外國人看 而且連我們台灣的人 都從來沒有用這個視角 去看那麼漂亮的台灣 他也做了一些批判 對破壞土地人一些無言的抗議 現在沒有了 齊柏林工作室有一幅直升機的照片，他稱為「寶貝」。他說，每次要出發前，都會站在照片前，對直升機說：「寶貝呀，要乖喔！」他曾透露，自己其實有懼高症，平常連雲霄飛車、海盜船都不敢坐，卻為了看見台灣，一次又一次博命。 ==導演 齊柏林== 我第一次要上飛機的前一個禮拜 整個心情是非常忐忑 晚上睡不著覺 七天以後要上飛機 六天以後要上飛機 那時候會緊張的 是會緊張的 可是一上飛機以後 我生龍活虎 事實上有懼高症 有時候上到頂樓去 站在女兒牆旁邊 往下看 腳底都會癢癢的 可是我上飛機不會 ==導演 齊柏林 == 我們今天要上玉山 小朋友已經在山上等我們了 有點緊張 曾在玉山主峰遭遇強大亂流，直升機呈現10層樓高劇烈震盪，多次的生死一瞬間，齊柏林都有驚無險，這次卻沒能躲過死神，不過他所留下的台灣影像，已無可取代。 記者 陳姝君 莊志成 台北報導。