Keeping a high profile

With modern skyscrapers and distant verdant mountains receding to the upper edges of the photo, this is an area where the trees are taller than the traditional hutong houses.

The trees line the lake and dot the old Beijing quadrangles with undulating gray-tiled rooftops.

In another related image, a verdant hue dominates the scene to transform the White Dagoba in Beihai Park and the Wanchun Pavilion in Jingshan Park into mere decorations-many viewers may never have realized there are such expanses of water and greenery in central Beijing.

Ma says there are more green areas and parks in the modern districts of the city outside of the historical hot spots, compared to when he started doing aerial photography.

By contrast, another work of Ma presents the CITIC Tower, also known as China Zun, Beijing's tallest skyscraper, in the central business district on the East Third Ring Road area. It was shot by Ma along with the nearby China World Trade Center Tower 3, Beijing's second-highest building which is some 200 meters lower.

The two landmarks are much taller than the surrounding buildings, making the horizontal image taken from the sky appear quite empty.