Without any way to get around, Seckler hired a retired pilot to take him in an "ultralight," a lightweight two-seater plane that can take off and land almost anywhere. The pilot took Seckler over the salt pans and countryside of Botswana, where he found himself exhilarated by the flight and the scenes below.

"Being above the ground at such low elevations, and having the ability to precisely maneuver, was like gliding over an enormous painting and being able to create brushstrokes at will," said Seckler.

Seckler began photographing the incredible landscapes and the animals that wandered into them, creating a body of work that he calls "Aerial Abstracts."