Overview Time Lapse is a collection of satellite images that demonstrate how human activity and natural forces shape our Earth. For this publication Benjamin Grant has curated and created more than 200 original images by stitching together numerous high-resolution satellite photographs. With each image, he aims to not only inspire a fresh perspective of our planet but also encourage a new understanding of what human impact looks like.

Inspired by the “Overview Effect”—a sensation that astronauts experience when given the opportunity to look down and view the Earth as a whole—these breathtaking, high definition satellite photographs offer a new way to look at the landscape that we have shaped.


Change is Earth’s most important and influential constant. From geological changes that take place over millennia, to the growth of civilization, to intense (and increasingly common) weather events exacerbated by a warming climate, the planet is constantly in flux. With areas viewed over various periods of time–days, months, and years–these changes become even more apparent, as does the scale and scope of human impact on Earth. With human activity driving this transformation faster than ever, visible signs can now be seen across the planet. Through its 250 mesmerizing images such as sprawling cities and the patterns created by decades of deforestation, this book offers a fresh perspective of change on Earth from a larger-than-life scale.
More than 200 images of industry, agriculture, architecture, and nature highlight incredible patterns while also revealing a deeper story about human impact.