Sebastião Salgado: The Humanist Visionary Who Transformed Global Documentary Photography Introduction Sebastião Salgado, born in 1944 in Aimorés, Brazil, is one of the most influential documentary photographers in history. His monumental black-and-white images—spanning continents, cultures, and crises—have become visual cornerstones in discussions of human rights, migration, labor, and the environment. Trained as an economist before becoming a photographer, Salgado brings a profound understanding of global inequality and economic displacement to his work. His projects often span years, sometimes decades, resulting in striking, immersive visual narratives that demand reflection and empathy. Salgado’s ability to capture the dignity, struggle, and resilience of people in the world’s most challenging environments has earned him global recognition, while his dedication to environmental restoration—through his Instituto Terra project—has shaped him into a leading voice for ecolo...
"The camera is an instrument that teaches people to see without a camera" - Dorothea Lange