Since the 1970s the Jequitinhonha Valley, one of the poorest regions of Brazil, has had to cope with a rigidly imposed landscape politics. One of the most radical plans is the construction of a dam that will leave a large part of the valley under water. As a result of this a large part of the scarce fertile land in the region will disappear and 1150 farm families, split over 42 communities, will be forced to move. Many have never been outside of the valley. The loss of diamond prospecting, an important source of income for these families, will not be financially compensated, because it is an illegal activity.

In 2002 three Brazilian photographers, each 27 years old, decided to document the lives of these families. João Castilho, Pedro David and Pedro Motta separately made regular trips to the valley. In 2006 they will make their final photographs for UNDERWATER LANDSCAPE (2002-2006). By that date all the families will have been relocated and the valley transformed into a lake.