Sebastião Salgado, the acclaimed Brazilian photographer known for his powerful black-and-white images documenting worker exploitation, environmental destruction, and human rights abuses, has died at age 81. His death was announced by Instituto Terra, the organization he co-founded with his wife Lélia Wanick Salgado. Salgado had been in declining health since contracting malaria in the 1990s. His work spanned decades and continents, from the Sahel desert to the Amazon rainforest, and he was widely regarded as one of the most beloved photographers of his generation.
Salgado's significance lies in his unique approach to documentary photography, which combined deep engagement with his subjects and a lifelong commitment to social justice. Unlike many photojournalists who maintain objectivity, Salgado built personal connections with those he photographed and directed proceeds from his work toward the communities he depicted. His acceptance in both journalism and the fine art world—marked by a 1991 retrospective at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art—was unusual for a photojournalist. However, his work also drew criticism for alleged exploitation of subjects, sparking ongoing debates about ethics in documentary photography that remain relevant today.