Remembering Sebastião Salgado: Celebrated Photographer of the Amazon Rainforest Passes Away at 81

Sebastião Salgado, the renowned Brazilian photographer, has passed away at the age of 81. Known for his striking black-and-white images, Salgado brought attention to social injustices and environmental issues. His passing was confirmed by Instituto Terra, the non-profit he founded to restore ecosystems.

Salgado had been battling severe leukaemia after complications from malaria, as shared by his family. In an interview last year, he reflected on his life, saying he felt he had lived a full life and was ready to go.

Born in Minas Gerais, Brazil, Salgado studied economics in São Paulo before moving to Paris during Brazil’s military dictatorship. There, he embraced photography in the 1970s and quickly gained fame for his work. Over five decades, he traveled to over 130 countries, documenting human suffering and the planet’s beauty. His powerful images sparked debate; some criticized him for focusing on misery while others praised his ability to show dignity in hardship.

One notable photograph from 1986 captures illegal gold miners in the Serra Pelada mine in the Amazon. His recent project, Amazônia, features over 200 photos that showcase the Amazon’s breathtaking landscapes and diverse Indigenous cultures. This exhibition aims to raise awareness about the threats the rainforest faces today, including climate change.

Salgado also put his environmental beliefs into action. On his family farm, he helped restore Brazil’s Atlantic forest through Instituto Terra, which has reforested over 2,000 hectares since its founding in 1998.

Despite stepping back from photography, he was still working on various projects, including an exhibition for the upcoming COP30 climate conference to be held in Belém, Brazil.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva observed a moment of silence in Salgado’s honor, noting that his work serves as a call for humanity to be more conscious of both social and environmental issues. The French Academy of Fine Arts recognized Salgado for his profound contributions, calling him a great witness of the human condition and the state of the planet.

Salgado leaves behind a legacy not only through his astounding photographs but also through his commitment to environmental restoration and human rights. His wife, Lélia, and their two sons, Juliano and Rodrigo, survive him, along with his grandchildren.

For more insights into Salgado’s life and work, you can read more from The Guardian.

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