“After 8 years of traveling the planet, capturing the natural world in its most pristine state…I discovered that a huge part of the planet is yet as the day of the beginning…what I wished to show was the planet in total equilibrium…us in equilibrium with our nature…I worked with the Nenets in the north of Siberia…all that a family has is minimum…there I discovered the sense of essential…to survive, and to survive well, to be happy, to love our child, to love our wife, to be close with nature, you don’t need all this. I don’t know if I succeed with these pictures, but my wish is to do a homage to the planet…a portrait of the planet.”
See more of Sebastião Salgado’s amazing black and white photos at this link.
Sebastião Salgado, 69, is a Brazilian social documentary photographer and photojournalist. Salgado initially trained as an economist and switched to photography in 1973. He is particularly noted for his social documentary photography of workers in less developed nations. He has traveled in over 100 countries for his photographic projects. Salgado has been awarded numerous major photographic prizes in recognition of his accomplishments and a sustained, significant contribution to the art of photography. (Source: Wiki)
Thank you Joan Walters @ Canadian Art Junkie for pointing me to this video and to Sebastião Salgado.
Live & Learn 
Just saw the exhibition in London a week ago, quite impressive… As an ex-professional photographer myself, let me say that Salgado is not the best I’ve ever seen, but he is among the top 50 in the world; and the subjects of his photographs are fascinating!
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Lucky you!
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Reblogged this on Oyia Brown.
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Thanks for sharing.
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I loved these pictures as much as I loved his purpose – to reflect the sense of what is essential. To get our heads back to that which is fundamental to our own equilibrium, our own joy.
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Yes Mimi. Especially the purpose which oozes out into his fine work.
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“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” –John Muir
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Yes, Muir too hits the spot
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He really does, David. So many beautiful quotes from that man….
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Impressive!
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He is!
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Reblogged this on msamba.
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Thanks for sharing
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A beautifully awesome human being… loved this David, thanks. 🙂
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He is Carol. Thanks
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The photos are beautiful and so is his premise about the equilibrium of nature, but it only applies to places where man hasn’t intruded. All the places he said were like they were in “the beginning” were remote and largely unpopulated. He’s only showing one side of the story. I realize he also did photos of workers in crowded conditions, etc., but I think that was a separate set. Yes, the world is beautiful, but sadly it seems to be mostly in places where people are not.
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You are on point Anneli. I’m only focused on the beauty today…:)
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Better that way.
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