12.14.2004

Salgado in search of pristine nature: "The modern notion that humanity and nature are somehow separate is absurd," writes Brazilian photographer SebastiĆ£o Salgado. "Our relationship with nature - with ourselves - has broken down. As the most developed species, humanity may have a special, often dominant, relationship with nature, but it is no less part of nature. Indeed, we cannot survive outside it." Known for arresting black-and-white images of workers, landless peasants, children, and migrants, Salgado is in the beginning stages of an eight-year project to "go to the most pristine places on the planet and photograph them in the most honest way I know, with my point of view, and of course it is in black and white, because it is the only thing I know how to do. I want to see if I can put a kind of virginity in these pictures, if you can say that, and to show 100% respect to nature and the animals." His work will be presented by The Guardian, where the first two installments--photos taken in the Galapagos and Rwanda--are now displayed.

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