This is the first image captured of Chernobyl, taken 14 hours after the explosion on April 26, 1986. The photo was taken from a helicopter conducting radiation assessments over the affected area. Due to the intense radiation in the air, the image appears grainy as the camera film was damaged upon exposure. Igor Kostin, the photographer, discovered that the radiation affected his camera’s motors after approximately 20 photos. When he developed the films, only the above image was usable, as the rest were completely black due to the high radiation levels. It is worth noting that Kostin’s initial visit to Chernobyl was unauthorized, but he later obtained permission to document the disaster site, the evacuation of Pripyat residents, and the 30 km exclusion zone surrounding the power plant. His photographs played a significant role in bringing awareness of the catastrophe to the world. Despite his proximity to the site, Kostin did not receive lethal doses of radiation. Unfortunately, he passed away in a car accident in 2015 at the age of 78.
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