On the 23rd of May, the world lost one of its most iconic visual storytellers. The great Brazilian photographer, Sebastião Ribeiro Salgado Júnior, passed away, leaving behind a legacy of powerful, deeply human images that have touched hearts across the globe.
Salgado originally trained as an economist, but his life changed course when he borrowed his wife’s camera during a trip to Africa. That moment sparked a lifelong journey into photography, a craft he used not only to document the world but also to provoke thought and awaken empathy.
He famously preferred black and white photography, believing that colour can distract from the emotional truth of the subject. I deeply relate to this approach. While I also shoot in colour (especially for commercial projects) black and white allows me to capture a timeless, raw essence that often speaks louder than words.
Beyond his photographic work, Salgado was a passionate environmentalist. Since the 1990s, he dedicated himself to the restoration of part of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil, proving that his commitment to humanity extended beyond the frame.
Let us celebrate his life and legacy through the lens of his iconic imagery, photographs that continue to inspire us to see the world, and one another, with more compassion and depth.
