Salgado's impactful career celebrated the beauty of the Amazon rainforest and the struggles of marginalized communities, earning him various prestigious awards and making a lasting mark on documentary photography.
Sebastião Salgado: A Legacy of Environmental Advocacy Through Photography
Sebastião Salgado: A Legacy of Environmental Advocacy Through Photography
Renowned Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado, known for his poignant imagery of nature and humanity, has passed away at the age of 81.
In a poignant reflection of his life's work, Sebastião Salgado, an iconic figure in environmental photography and an advocate for social justice, died on May 23, 2025. He was 81. His passing was confirmed by Instituto Terra, the environmental nonprofit founded alongside his wife, which highlighted his transformative influence through powerful imagery. Although details around his passing remain undisclosed, Salgado's family indicated he had faced multiple health challenges, including aftermaths from malaria.
"He was much more than one of the greatest photographers of our time,” Instituto Terra conveyed in a heartfelt tribute on social media. “His lens revealed the world and its contradictions; his life exemplified the strength of transformative action.”
Salgado, whose work often employed black-and-white photography, garnered global acclaim for evocative portrayals of the Amazon and its indigenous communities. His notable works also included the documentation of workers in harsh conditions, such as those laboring in a gold mine in Pará in 1986.
Throughout his illustrious career, Salgado received numerous accolades, including the Leica Oskar Barnack Award and several World Press Photo awards. He was honored as an honorary member of the Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1992 and received recognition from the French Academy of Fine Arts in 2016.
Born on February 8, 1944, in Aimorés, Minas Gerais, Salgado's path led him to France following the military dictatorship's rise in Brazil during the late 1960s. His legacy continues to inspire future generations in the realms of ecology, advocacy, and photography.
A comprehensive obituary is expected to follow, celebrating the breadth of his contributions and lasting impact.
"He was much more than one of the greatest photographers of our time,” Instituto Terra conveyed in a heartfelt tribute on social media. “His lens revealed the world and its contradictions; his life exemplified the strength of transformative action.”
Salgado, whose work often employed black-and-white photography, garnered global acclaim for evocative portrayals of the Amazon and its indigenous communities. His notable works also included the documentation of workers in harsh conditions, such as those laboring in a gold mine in Pará in 1986.
Throughout his illustrious career, Salgado received numerous accolades, including the Leica Oskar Barnack Award and several World Press Photo awards. He was honored as an honorary member of the Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1992 and received recognition from the French Academy of Fine Arts in 2016.
Born on February 8, 1944, in Aimorés, Minas Gerais, Salgado's path led him to France following the military dictatorship's rise in Brazil during the late 1960s. His legacy continues to inspire future generations in the realms of ecology, advocacy, and photography.
A comprehensive obituary is expected to follow, celebrating the breadth of his contributions and lasting impact.
