“What I want is to create a connection between the people who see my photographs and the people in my photographs. We must look at them in the eye and understand that they are part of our family.” — Sebastião Salgado
Sebastião Salgado’s journey from an economist to one of the world’s most revered photojournalists is a testament to the transformative power of art and the profound empathy it can evoke. Born on February 8, 1944, in Aimorés, a small town in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, Salgado’s early life was shaped by the bucolic landscape and the socio-economic struggles of rural Brazil. These formative years planted the seeds of his lifelong commitment to documenting the human condition.
Salgado’s initial foray into the world of numbers and policies seemed a far cry from the evocative images that would later define his career. After completing his studies in economics, he worked for the International Coffee Organization, where frequent travels exposed him to the lives of the people he would eventually portray. It was during these journeys that he began to wield his wife Lélia Wanick’s camera, discovering a new lens through which to view the world.
The pivot from economist to photographer was not instantaneous but evolved as Salgado’s passion for photography grew. By 1973, he decided to pursue photography full-time, a decision that would lead him to the farthest reaches of the globe, capturing stories that transcended borders and spoke to the universal human experience.
His early work often took him to Africa, where he documented the Sahel drought from 1973 to 1976. This project crystallized his focus on the marginalized and suffering. These powerful images were not merely snapshots of despair but complex narratives that captured resilience, dignity, and the indomitable human spirit. His work in the Sahel would later become part of the iconic book Sahel: Man in Distress (2004), co-authored with Lélia. The stark black-and-white images convey the harrowing realities of famine and displacement while highlighting the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Salgado’s projects became more ambitious. His series Workers (1993) is a monumental tribute to the manual laborers whose toil underpins the global economy. Over six years, Salgado traveled to 23 countries, capturing the lives of coal miners in India, sugarcane cutters in Brazil, sulfur miners in Indonesia, and ship breakers in Bangladesh. Each photograph in Workers is a testament to the dignity and perseverance of the labor force, often overlooked and underappreciated. The series is a powerful reminder of the human cost behind industrial progress.
Salgado’s subsequent project, Migrations (2000), is a profound exploration of the mass movement of people around the globe. Over six years, he visited more than 40 countries, documenting the journeys of those displaced by war, famine, and economic hardship. From the Kurdish exodus in Iraq to the Rwandan genocide survivors, Salgado’s images in Migrations capture the desperation, hope, and resilience of people on the move. The series is both a sobering reflection on the causes of displacement and a tribute to the strength of the human spirit in seeking a better life.
One of the most iconic images from Migrations is that of a mother and child in a refugee camp in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), their faces etched with exhaustion and determination. This photograph, like many of Salgado’s works, transcends its immediate context to become a universal symbol of maternal love and endurance in the face of adversity.
Salgado’s commitment to his craft often placed him in dangerous and inhospitable environments. Yet, his work is imbued with a profound sense of respect and intimacy. His subjects, whether factory workers, refugees, or indigenous tribes, are portrayed with a dignity that challenges viewers to see beyond their circumstances and recognize their shared humanity.
The early 2000s marked a significant shift in Salgado’s focus. Witnessing the environmental degradation and humanitarian crises he had documented so extensively, he and Lélia embarked on a mission to restore a part of Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, which had been severely deforested. This led to the creation of the Instituto Terra, a project that has successfully planted millions of trees and revitalized the local ecosystem. The reforestation effort transformed a barren landscape into a thriving forest, demonstrating the potential for human intervention to heal environmental wounds.
This profound connection to the environment is poignantly reflected in Genesis (2013), a photographic homage to the planet’s pristine landscapes, wildlife, and communities living in harmony with nature. This project, spanning over eight years, took Salgado to the most remote corners of the Earth, from the icy expanses of Antarctica to the lush jungles of the Amazon. Genesis is both a celebration of the natural world and a call to action to preserve it. The series includes breathtaking images of the Nenets of Siberia, the Himba people of Namibia, and the Zo’é tribe of Brazil, among others. Each photograph in Genesis is a testament to the beauty and fragility of our planet.
Sebastião Salgado/California Science Center
Salgado’s work has earned numerous accolades, including the World Press Photo Award and the Prince of Asturias Award for the Arts. Yet, beyond these honors, it is the impact of his images that resonates most profoundly. His photographs are not just visual records but powerful agents of change, urging viewers to confront the realities of our world and act with compassion.
In his own words, Salgado’s mission has always been to create a connection, to make us see that we are part of a larger human family. Through his lens, we witness the struggles and triumphs of people across the globe, and in doing so, we are reminded of our shared humanity and the urgent need to care for one another and our planet.
Sebastião Salgado’s photography has inspired many other photographers to use their craft as a means of addressing social and environmental concerns, and his work has had a lasting impression on the photographic community and beyond. He has inspired a new generation of documentary photographers with his perseverance through long-term projects and his advocacy for social and environmental issues.
Photographers like Steve McCurry, James Nachtwey, and Mary Ellen Mark have been moved by Salgado’s commitment to capturing the human experience via his striking images. Not only has Salgado brought attention to pressing global concerns via his work, but he has also contributed to reimagining photography’s function as a witness, storyteller, and change agent. His work motivates and encourages photographers to make a difference in the world via their craft, both in terms of social change and environmental protection.
Sebastião Salgado’s legacy is one of unparalleled artistic achievement and profound humanitarianism. His life’s work, captured in striking monochrome, is a compelling narrative of hope, resilience, and the enduring power of empathy. His photographs challenge us to see the world through the eyes of others and inspire us to take action to build a more just and compassionate world.
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