Sebastião Salgado

Born in 1944, Sebastião Salgado is a Brazilian photojournalist and social documentary photographer. Celebrated for his black-and-white photographs that capture pristine landscapes and indigenous communities, Salgado utilizes his art to encourage environmental preservation and the coexistence of humanity and nature.  

Salgado originally worked as an economist, having received his PhD from the University of Paris. Following numerous trips to Africa, he became interested in photography, switching career paths in 1973.

Salgado's uncompromising photographs have earned him international recognition. He has received honors from Brazil, Monaco and France. In 2021, he was awarded the Praemium Imperiale by the Japanese Art Association.

In addition to his artistic pursuits, Salgado is an active environmental campaigner. He has successfully turned 17 000 acres of the Amazonian rainforest into a nature reserve. Salgado has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2001.

The famous photographer died on May 23, 2025, in Paris.