A bird's eye view shows the incredible patterns made by human life a work and at play in locations across the world Mesmerising images captured by renowned aerial photographer Jason Hawkes These incredible pictures give an impression of how human life must appear to birds soaring overhead. Appearing as so many brightly coloured ants below, people mill around at work and at play, apparently oblivious to the watchful eyes overhead. The remarkable images were shot at locations all over the world by renowned British aerial photographer Jason Hawkes. Long shadows: This picture, from Jason Hawkes's 'People' series of photographs, shows the long shadows cast by individuals milling around on a featureless urban expanse At play: Mr Hawkes has been taking aerial photographs for more than two decades and is a recognised leader in the field Match point: Footballers playing on twelve five-a-side football pitches after work in Union Street, Manchester, look minuscule from the sky Fun land: A rollercoaster track twists and turns to form an incredible colourful image at this amusement park in Southend-on-Sea Hanging out with Nelson: A view looking down on Nelson's Column in London's Trafalgar Square Howzat? Spectators watch the cricket at the Oval in Kennington, South East London Back of the net: Wembley Stadium in north west London looks magnificent in the dark with its pitch and stands basking in a white glow Sand fly: A farmhouse with a pen full of sheep lies alone in the middle of the Moroccan desert Picnic time: Park goers lay out in the Chelsea sun on the west side of Manhattan A tonic for urban life: Health-conscious bathers take a dip in the Széchenyi Medicinal Bath in Budapest, Hungary Throngs: Thousands of revellers are seen enjoying the evening sun at a music festival in Hyde Park, central London Soaking up the sun: Multi-coloured parasols are dotted across the view of this beach where sun worshippers and children playing enjoy the seaside Idyllic scene: Beachgoers enjoy clear blue waters in this coastal image which reveals the submarine landscape off the coast of Malta Feed the world: A gang of crop pickers collect the harvest. Mr Hawkes's work draws out the patterns of human life invisible from ground level Vivid colours: This shot shows the incredible array of colours in the landscape as only visible from a bird's eye view of this beach in Menorca, Spain For more than two decades Mr Hawkes has specialised in photography from the air, organising all the logistics including helicopters, production and necessary permits. Mr Hawkes said he enjoys shooting from above because it enables him to show locations from an unfamiliar perspective, drawing out the patterns of human life invisible from ground level. 'I find it more interesting to shoot abstract, art formed images of things that are natural or man made which you don't know are there until you happen to fly over them,' he says. To see more of Mr Hawkes's work visit his website at www.jasonhawkes.com. Spirit of enterprise: Shoppers mill around a busy market, viewing the products on sale Making the way: Commuters stand at the platforms of London Bridge railway station, waiting to be ferried all around the UK capital's southern suburbs and beyond Cultural life: Film4's Summer Screen at Somerset House, near the north end of Waterloo Bridge in London Walking the dogs in snow: The footsteps left behind are almost like so-many snail trails in a suburban back garden Fun in the sun: Families and couples relax by the Mediterranean on another beach in Es Talaier, Menorca, Spain Surf's up: Surfers paddle in a calm sea that appears various shades of green to the aerial eye Cooling off: Dozens of swimmers enjoy this vast pool as others look on from around the edges Abstract: The intriguing patterns of this plaza can only really be appreciated from the air, as this photo illustrates The best years of your life: Children in uniform are seen at play in this picture Campsite: Multi-coloured tents are lined up next to canoes on a big stretch of beach, presumably for some kind of marine sporting event Paradise: One group of friends seem to be the only people enjoying this beautiful seaside location Wet and wild: Canoeists line up as they await instructions in this picture taken of Mercers Park Lake in Nutfield, Surrey Taking some time out: City dwellers enjoy the relaxing atmosphere in a picturesque park Ace view: Tennis fans sit on the grass outside the All England Club in Wimbledon, South West London Fire: Pyrotechnics light up the night landscape in this incredible picture And ice: An aerial view of the ice rink at Somerset House, near Aldgate, central London, as it is lit with snow-flake lighting effects