Sebastião Salgado – Photo: Fernando Frazão / Agência Brasil – Creative Commons License
On May 23, 2025, the world of photography lost one of its most iconic figures. Sebastião Salgado passed away at the age of 81 in Paris, leaving behind an extraordinary photographic legacy. The Franco-Brazilian photographer devoted over five decades of his life to capturing human beauty and dignity in a world marked by inequality. Through his striking black-and-white images, he documented the social and environmental realities of our time, turning each photograph into a call for collective awareness. This article looks back on the remarkable journey of this committed artist, his major projects such as “Genesis” and “Amazônia”, and his pioneering work in preserving the Atlantic Forest through the Instituto Terra.
Table of Contents
- Portrait of an Exceptional Humanist Photographer
- The Photographic Work of Sebastião Salgado
- His Social and Environmental Commitment
- A Legacy That Transcends Photography
Portrait of an Exceptional Humanist Photographer
A Unique Path from Economics to Photography
Born on February 8, 1944, in Aimorés, Brazil, Sebastião Salgado initially studied economics at the University of São Paulo and later in Paris. He began his professional career at the International Coffee Organization, where work-related travels gradually introduced him to photography. This background in economics gave him a unique understanding of social and geopolitical issues that would profoundly inform his photographic vision.
In 1973, Salgado left economics for good to fully devote himself to photography. His early projects documented immigrant workers in France, already revealing his sensitivity to social questions and his ability to highlight dignity amid hardship. This marked the beginning of an exceptional career that would establish him as one of the most respected photographers of his generation.
A Humanist Vision That Marked His Era
Sebastião Salgado’s work was driven by deep humanist and ecological values. His photographs revealed the beauty and dignity of people facing adversity, turning each portrait into a universal testimony to the human condition. His approach went beyond mere documentary to attain a rare poetic and artistic dimension.
His work embodied committed fine art photography, with every image acting as a call for collective consciousness. Whether denouncing global inequalities or celebrating the beauty of nature, Salgado used his art as a tool for awareness and social transformation. His commitment extended beyond capturing images to concrete action, notably through the Instituto Terra—now a global model of ecological restoration.
The Photographic Work of Sebastião Salgado
The Art of Black and White Serving Emotion
Salgado’s photographs drew their expressive power from their black-and-white treatment. This aesthetic choice—far from incidental—intensified contrast, revealed textures, and gave the images a universal dimension that transcended time and culture. Black and white became, for him, a complete artistic language.
| Technical Aspect | Equipment or Feature | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Photographic Style | Black and white with strong contrast | Created dramatic and powerful images highlighting textures and emotion |
| Artistic Approach | Baroque aesthetic | Characterized by careful composition and poetic realism |
| Influence of Education | Economics studies | Enabled a nuanced understanding of social and economic issues |
| Artistic Commitment | Humanist photography | Bore witness to human dignity and denounced social injustice |
His technical approach—favoring Leica cameras and fixed focal lengths—reflected his pursuit of precision and authenticity. This mastery served an artistic vision that turned each shot into a poetic testimony to human and environmental reality.
Major Photographic Cycles That Shaped History
Salgado’s work was structured around major thematic projects—true photographic cycles that shaped the history of contemporary photography. These series, born of years of immersion, explored key themes in his work: migration, labor, and humanity’s relationship with nature.
- Genesis (2004–2012): Explored the planet’s primal beauty—landscapes, wildlife, and ancient communities—over 32 expeditions worldwide
- Exodus (2000): Documented human migration caused by poverty and conflict across 40 countries in 36 reports over 6 years
- Terra (1997): Focused on the bond between people and the land, particularly among Brazil’s rural workers
- Amazônia (2021): Celebrated biodiversity and Indigenous peoples of Brazil’s Amazon—his final major project
- Workers: Reflected on labor and its conditions, underscoring the photographer’s social engagement
Each project revealed a different facet of his worldview, building a coherent visual narrative that questioned contemporary issues while celebrating human beauty and resilience.
International Artistic Recognition
Salgado’s artistic excellence earned him worldwide acclaim. His works were exhibited in the world’s most prestigious art institutions: the Maison Européenne de la Photographie in Paris, the Charles Nègre Photography Museum in Nice, and major international shows like “Salgado Amazônia” at the Philharmonie de Paris.
The documentary “The Salt of the Earth,” directed by Wim Wenders and Salgado’s son Juliano, introduced his creative process to the broader public. Awarded at Cannes and the César Awards, the film offered a unique immersion into the photographer’s world, revealing the deep bond between his art and his humanist mission.
His Social and Environmental Commitment
Witness to the Fractures of the Modern World
Through his reports, Salgado exposed the harshest realities of our time: poverty, war, mass displacement. His iconic images of gold miners at Serra Pelada in Brazil—where 50,000 men toiled in extreme conditions—and his refugee portraits, illustrated the human cost of crisis and conflict.
This testimonial dimension of his work was matched by real-world commitment. A UNICEF ambassador since 2001, he also collaborated with Médecins Sans Frontières. His photo essays on famine in Africa and displaced populations raised public awareness while preserving the dignity of those photographed, avoiding voyeuristic pitfalls.
Instituto Terra: The Ecological Legacy of a Visionary
Salgado’s environmental engagement took root in the Instituto Terra, which he co-founded with his wife Lélia in 1998. This visionary initiative aimed to rehabilitate the devastated Atlantic Forest on his family’s land in Brazil.
The reforestation project is now an ecological miracle and one of Salgado’s most precious legacies: over 2.7 million native trees were planted, restoring exceptional biodiversity with 293 tree species, 172 bird species, and 33 mammal species. It demonstrated the possibility of repairing environmental damage.
The Instituto Terra perfectly embodied Salgado’s philosophy: art as a catalyst for action, beauty as a transformative force. His photographs of forests and Indigenous peoples found natural continuation in this environmental restoration. Today, the institute continues its mission and serves as a model for similar projects worldwide.
Genesis: A Hymn to the Beauty of the World
“Genesis” represented the culmination of Sebastião Salgado’s artistic vision. Over eight years, he documented landscapes, animals, and human communities living according to ancestral traditions in regions untouched by industrial modernity.
This monumental work emphasized the beauty of intact ecosystems and the urgent need to protect them. His black-and-white images revealed the splendor of lands and peoples still spared by industrialization, creating a striking contrast with his earlier work on social fractures.
“Genesis” left a lasting impression through its global exhibition tour, drawing millions of visitors. By highlighting the planet’s magnificence, the project strengthened Salgado’s ecological and humanist message, transforming aesthetic contemplation into environmental awareness.
A Legacy That Transcends Photography
Sebastião Salgado is gone, but his legacy endures. His work transcended photography to become a poetic act of resistance against global disorder. Through his artistic and activist gaze, he showed that every image can hold the seeds of a more just and respectful future.
His passing leaves an immense void in the photography world, but his message of hope and commitment continues to resonate. Instituto Terra continues its reforestation work, proving that true art doesn’t just testify—it transforms, inspires, and acts.
The millions of trees planted in Brazil, the minds awakened by his images, and the generations of photographers he inspired form the living legacy of this master of humanist photography. Sebastião Salgado proved that when art is guided by love for humanity and nature, it can truly change the world.
FAQ
What were Salgado’s artistic influences?
Sebastião Salgado drew inspiration from the great tradition of American humanist photography, notably Lewis Hine, W. Eugene Smith, and Walker Evans. These masters taught him to reveal beauty in the most difficult subjects, turning poverty and oppression into universal testimonies of human dignity.
Henri Cartier-Bresson and Robert Capa were also major influences, particularly for their approach to engaged photojournalism. Salgado inherited their ability to capture the decisive moment while developing his own visual language, marked by a baroque aesthetic and a keen sense of composition.
How can I discover Salgado’s work?
Sebastião Salgado’s works continue to be exhibited in prestigious cultural institutions. The Maison Européenne de la Photographie in Paris regularly showcases his work, as do major international museums. These exhibitions offer a chance to experience his photographs in their original scale and emotional depth.
His photographic books, true works of editorial art, also offer an intimate perspective on his career. Published by leading houses, these volumes reflect the power of his images and the thematic coherence of his projects.
What is the impact of the Instituto Terra?
Founded by Lélia Wanick Salgado and Sebastião Salgado, the Instituto Terra is an exemplary model of ecological restoration and one of the photographer’s most meaningful legacies. The organization focuses on environmental rehabilitation, ecological education, and sustainable rural development in Brazil’s Rio Doce Valley.
Its impact goes beyond reforestation figures. The institute manages a private nature reserve of 1,754 acres and develops ecological restoration methods that serve as models for similar efforts. Its approach includes community involvement, proving that environmental protection and social development can reinforce each other.
How can I support the Instituto Terra?
Instituto Terra welcomes various forms of support to continue the mission initiated by Sebastião Salgado. Financial donations directly contribute to reforestation and environmental education programs. Companies can also become partners and earn recognition for their ecological commitment.
The institute also offers an online store of exclusive products, allowing people to support its efforts while keeping a meaningful memento. Every contribution becomes part of a collective effort to restore Brazil’s biodiversity and honor the photographer’s memory.
What were the central themes of his work?
Sebastião Salgado’s work explored key themes of the contemporary human condition: the dignity of the humble, forced migration, working conditions, and humanity’s relationship with the environment. His projects documented the effects of globalization on the most vulnerable populations.
His more recent projects shifted focus to the beauty of the natural world and the wisdom of Indigenous peoples. This evolution reflected a holistic vision in which social justice and environmental protection were inseparable, making Salgado an essential witness of our era.
Where can I currently see exhibitions honoring Salgado?
Following the photographer’s death on May 23, 2025, many cultural institutions are preparing tribute exhibitions. Contemporary art centers and photography museums regularly organize retrospectives of his work, often accompanied by rich programming that deepens appreciation of his legacy.
To stay informed about tribute exhibitions, consult event calendars of leading cultural institutions and announcements in the photography and contemporary art press. The year 2025 will surely be marked by numerous honors for this master of humanist photography.
