Brazilian Photographer Sebastião Salgado Dies at 81, Leaves Humanitarian Legacy

Sebastião Salgado, the renowned Brazilian photojournalist and environmentalist, died at 81 after a long career documenting global human suffering and the natural world through striking black-and-white photography. Originally an economist, Salgado turned to photography in the 1970s after moving to Paris, producing influential projects like 'Workers,' 'Exodus,' and 'Genesis,' which captured labor conditions, migrant struggles, and pristine landscapes. His work, while sometimes criticized for an 'aesthetic of misery,' is celebrated for its dignity and empathy toward its subjects. Together with his wife Lélia, he founded Instituto Terra in 1998, a nonprofit that has restored millions of trees to Brazil's Atlantic Forest and Amazon rainforest. Salgado's legacy also includes activism for social equality and environmental preservation, highlighted by his efforts to protect indigenous communities. His passing drew tributes recognizing his profound impact on photography, humanitarian awareness, and ecological restoration.