The first image of Chernobyl was captured 14 hours after the April 26, 1986, explosion. It was taken from a helicopter assessing radiation levels in the disaster area. The photo's grainy quality resulted from the intense radiation in the air, which damaged the camera film upon exposure.

Igor Kostin, the photographer, discovered that radiation affected his camera's motors after about 20 photos. Only the image above was usable; all other photos, impacted by high radiation levels, turned out completely black.

Kostin's visit to Chernobyl was unauthorized and concealed by the authorities. Nonetheless, he later gained permission to photograph the disaster site, the evacuation of Pripyat's residents, and the 30 km zone around the power plant. His images played a vital role in exposing the catastrophe to the world.

Despite his proximity to the site, Kostin did not receive lethal levels of radiation. He passed away in a car accident in 2015 at the age of 78.