Sebastião Salgado leaves behind monumental legacy at age 81

Brazilian photographer and environmentalist Sebastião Salgado, recognized for his impactful documentary photography, passed away at the age of 81. His organization, Instituto Terra, announced his death without detailing specific circumstances or location, although local media cited Paris, where he resided for over 55 years, as his home at the time of passing. Salgado's career spanned decades and included works that highlighted the struggles of impoverished communities, environmental issues, and humanitarian crises. His projects raised awareness about global injustices through dramatic black-and-white imagery, particularly his series focusing on the Amazon rainforest, human migrations, and the lives of manual laborers. The artist was acclaimed for his ability to capture powerful images that conveyed the rich tonality of black-and-white photography, revealing deep narratives about hardship, beauty, and resilience in various parts of the world. His photographs often documented significant historical events, including the Rwandan genocide and the Gulf War, focusing on how these events affected vulnerable populations. Salgado’s work was not only an artistic expression but also a loud call for societal change, integrating his firsthand experience with a profound commitment to environmental and social activism developed alongside his wife, Lélia Wanick Salgado. Salgado founded Amazonas Images, a photography agency dedicated to showcasing his work and promoting environmental causes. He was also a notable figure in reforestation efforts, having planted over three million trees on his family farm, which he restored to a thriving rainforest as part of the Instituto Terra initiative. His legacy includes film documentation of his life’s work in