Born and raised in Brussels, award-winning photographer Sébastien trained in the field of advertising before turning to photography. Coupling a passion for urban exploration with mastery of his SLR camera, he went in search of fresh perspectives and, as a result, his early work was shot from Brussels’ rooftops. The advent of drone technology took him to new heights in every sense and now dominates his work.
Covering 80ha, the open-air museum of Ancient Siam, or Muang Boran, in Samut Prakan near Bangkok, is known for its 116 replicas of palaces, stupas and traditional villages from across the country. Its striking Pavilion of the Enlightened, set within a lake, symbolises the 500 monks of differing cultural backgrounds who attained Nirvana.
Shot from behind and shrouded by desert sand on the outskirts of Cairo, the Great Pyramid of
Giza and the Pyramid of Khafre – with its remaining polished limestone cap – take centre stage. Beyond, the ancient wonder unfolds into the desert plateau peppered with the iconic Sphinx, tombs and temple ruins and small satellite pyramids known as Queen’s Pyramids.
Carved into granite and sandstone and known as the Valley of the Moon, Wadi Rum – two hours from Petra – is one of Jordan’s biggest draws. This French fortress is found close to the camel-racing village of Disah – in a beautiful quiet stretch of desert usually visited only by hikers. Sébastien describes it as a ‘magical place’, but perhaps most surprising is that the fortress was built for the game show Desert Forges in 2001.
In the heart of Dubai, the frenetic 12-lane Sheikh Zayed Road – the UAE’s longest – is flanked by residential properties and offices, train stations, hotels and malls. Captured at a rare quiet moment, the image allows the ever-evolving cityscape, with its striking architecture, to come to the fore.
Amid the jungle-clad islets of Southern Thailand, the fishing village of Ko Panyi is known for two things: its stilted houses and Panyee FC. Unperturbed by nature and inspired by the 1986 World Cup, local kids made a floating pitch out of scraps of wood and rafts. Today, the team is one of the most successful in the region.
To see more of Sébastien's work head to his Instagram account @sebastien.nagy where you can get in touch with him to buy prints