Most of the photos in the exhibition capture a moment of life from one of the 82 countries Arthus-Bertrand visited to compile the collection. Arthus-Bertrand is concerned not only about aesthetics but also about the story behind the people and places in the images. He said it was the combination of what humankind contributes to the planet, not just the Earth's natural wonders, that inspired him to become a photographer in the first place. I use my camera to capture a moment of life. It's not only to show war.
Every photo has a story All the images in the exhibition are displayed with accompanying texts.
Arthus-Bertrand believes images and text together are the best way to tell a story about a place or an activity. Experts selected by Arthus-Bertrand and his team compile political, social or environmental information about each image. One image visitors to the park seem drawn to is the ghostly gray and white photo of the abandoned Ukrainian city of Pripiat, whose populace of 50,000 was forced to evacuate after the April 1986 disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear plant. From a social point of view, it's ugly. But for a photographer, the symmetry of the street and the color and mood are beautiful.