For his latest book Sebastiao Salgado travelled deep into the largest rainforest on the planet almost losing an eye in the process and with permanent damage to his knee. He thought it was worth it to bring a message of an old world still existing in his native Brazil. Planning took nine years so, as with much of Salgado's work, it was a major and expensive undertaking. Now in his late 70's it seems likely this will be the last time he travels this extensively.

I have not seen the book yet but joined a Photo London Zoom bookclub with Salgado this week and, as you would expect, the pictures are quite stunning although I found some of the skies in his large landscapes a little overcooked for my liking. Each to their own. Given Salgado's past books it is unsurprising that the work is all black and white when many people might have covered a similar trip in colour given the nature of the pictures and area.

During the visit he stayed with twelve tribes, all different in their habits and social structures. One tribe has a patriachal system whilst in another women have several husbands - one for hunting, one for building, one for looking after the children etc. Salgado himself talks about paradise as the tribes collaborate through keeping their distance from each other so as not to use all the natural resources they rely upon.

Anyway Amazonia is the result. A huge book by Taschen with a huge price tag of course. £100 if you buy it form them although I did find it online for just £61.33 including postage at On Buy who seem a reputable company from the many Trustpilot reviews.

The book will also be accompanied by the inevitable world tour that will be hosted in the UK by the Science Musuem, firstly in London from October this year and then, apparently although I can't find details as yet, by the Science Musuem in Manchester. I'll update this when I find out. It appears to be a multi-faceted show as Jean Michel Jarre has written an accompanying piece that incorporates sounds from the Amazon itself. You can also buy tickets for a concert at the Barbican on 14th October at which Salgado will talk about the making of the photographs and the Britten Symphonia will play to accompany a slide show of the work..and all for £12.50 (well, plus the cost of travel meals and a hotel if you don't live in London)...

As with all Salgado's work this has a serious message which is about the destruction of the rain forest, not only because of the impact on the tribes but also on climate change and, ultimately, the world itself. He is not complementary about the current government in Brazil who are allowing the destruction of more and more of the rainforest as you read this. Salgado himself with his wife Leila have already rewilded land bought by his father in the 1940's. Near the Atlantic coast of Brazil in what is known as the Atlantic Forest the land was barren after his father had cut down the native trees. The Instituto Terra is an example of how nearly barren land can be brought back to life. The story is well documented by the Smithsonian Magazine,