Sebastião Salgado, Legendary Photographer and Environmentalist, Dies at 81
Paris, France – Sebastião Salgado, the Brazilian photographer whose haunting black-and-white images illuminated the struggles of humanity and the beauty of the natural world, passed away on May 23, 2025, at the age of 81. The Instituto Terra, the environmental nonprofit he co-founded with his wife, Lélia Wanick Salgado, confirmed his death, marking the end of an era for one of the world’s most revered visual storytellers.
Salgado’s death was attributed to complications from a long battle with malaria, contracted in the 1990s, likely during his work in Indonesia. The illness, improperly treated at the time, led to a blood disorder, possibly severe anemia, which impaired his red blood cell production. In recent years, medications reportedly became less effective, and the condition progressed into severe leukemia, ultimately proving fatal. His passing has left a void in the worlds of photography, environmental activism, and social advocacy.
Born on February 8, 1944, in Aimorés, Minas Gerais, Brazil, Salgado initially pursued a career in economics, earning a master’s degree and working for the International Coffee Organization. A pivotal moment came in the early 1970s when he borrowed his wife’s camera during a trip to Africa, sparking a passion that would redefine his life. Abandoning economics, he trained as a photographer and embarked on a career that would cement his legacy as a “mirror of society.”
Salgado’s work was defined by its emotional depth and technical mastery. His black-and-white photographs, rich in tonality and contrast, captured the dignity of marginalized communities, the toll of manual labor, and the resilience of Indigenous peoples. Projects like *Workers* (1986–1992) documented the grueling lives of laborers across the globe, from Brazilian gold miners to Indian steelworkers. *Exodus* (1994–1999) chronicled mass migration and displacement, while *Amazônia* (2013–2019) celebrated the Amazon rainforest’s biodiversity and its Indigenous guardians. His images, often described as both poetic and unflinching, earned him accolades, including the prestigious Hasselblad Award and the Praemium Imperiale.
Beyond photography, Salgado was a tireless environmentalist. With Lélia, he founded Instituto Terra in 1998, transforming a degraded cattle ranch in Minas Gerais into a thriving hub for reforestation. The institute has planted millions of trees, restoring parts of the Atlantic Forest and inspiring global conservation efforts. His environmental commitment was deeply personal, rooted in his love for the Brazilian landscape and his alarm at its destruction.
Salgado’s health struggles began in the 1990s, when malaria took a severe toll. The disease, compounded by the physical and emotional exhaustion of documenting human suffering, particularly during his work on *Exodus*, left him frail. In a 2013 interview, he recounted how his doctor warned him that his blood was “incompatible with life.” Yet, his resilience and dedication to his craft and causes persisted, culminating in works like *Genesis* (2004–2012), a love letter to the planet’s untouched landscapes.
The news of his death prompted an outpouring of tributes. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ordered a minute of silence, hailing Salgado as “one of the greatest photographers in history” for portraying humanity’s struggles with dignity. On X, admirers described him as a “master of light and shadow” whose lens captured “the soul of the world.” Photography institutions, including the International Center of Photography, praised his ability to blend art with activism.
Salgado is survived by his wife, Lélia, his partner in art and advocacy, and their sons, Juliano and Rodrigo. His work, preserved in books, exhibitions, and the ongoing efforts of Instituto Terra, continues to inspire. As he once said, “Photography is not about the photographer. It’s about the people and the planet.” Sebastião Salgado’s life was a testament to that belief, leaving behind a legacy that will endure through his images and the forests he helped restore.