The State of Planet Earth in Black and White

Brazilian Sebastião Salgado is famous for photographing human beings. For a 1993 project, he took pictures of workers in 26 countries over six years. Later, he spent seven years documenting mass migrations across 35 countries.

Now he is taking on the planet as his subject. "Genesis," 200 black-and-white pictures on view at the International Center of Photography, aims to document the state of the Earth.

“Genesis” took Salgado eight years. He traveled to the most remote places in the Amazon, Africa, Antarctica and the U.S. photographing landscapes, indigenous peoples and, for the first time in his life, animals. He said that was a transformative experience.

“During many years in my life, they tell me a huge lie, that I was part of the only rational species in the planet, that is not true,” he said. “Each species is deeply rational. You must have the same respect to photograph a human being, and to photograph any other animal.”

Sebastião Salgado, Since elephants are hunted by poachers in Zambia, they are scared of humans and vehicles. Kafue National Park. Zambia. 2010.

(Sebastião Salgado/Amazonas images-Contact Press Images.)

Salgado said the images show what climate change could destroy.

“This is a project of what is pristine in the planet, what we must protect if you want to maintain a certain level of the climate in the planet,” he said.

The exhibit has travelled to several places in Brazil and Europe, and is in the U.S. for the first time. Salgado said he is looking forward to fostering a discussion with Americans, and especially kids. And he hopes others would feel motivated to take on a similar adventure. “The biggest trip I took was inside myself," he said.

The show is on view until Jan. 11.

Sebastião Salgado, Typically, the women in the Zo’é village of Towari Ypy use the “urucum” (Bixa orellana) red fruit to color their bodies. Brazil. 2009.

(Sebastião Salgado/Amazonas images-Contact Press Images.)

Sebastião Salgado, North of the Ob River, about 100 kilometers inside the Yamal peninsula. Inside the Arctic Circle. Yamal peninsula, Siberia. Russia. 2011.

(Sebastião Salgado/Amazonas images-Contact Press Images.)