For "A Day in the Life of Africa," Barbey returned to Morocco, the country of his birth and childhood. After studies at the École des Arts et Métiers in Switzerland, Barbey spent the 1960s in Africa illustrating a number of books and working for Vogue. In 1966 he joined Magnum photo agency. His work is regularly published in book form and in international magazines such as Life, National Geographic, Paris Match and the London Sunday Times.