Sebastião Salgado
Sebastião Salgado is a world-renowned Brazilian photographer, known for his powerful social documentary photography and his deep commitment to environmental and humanitarian causes. Over a career spanning several decades, Salgado has captured the human condition in all its complexity, from the depths of poverty and suffering to the resilience and hope of those struggling for a better future. His black and white images are celebrated for their emotional depth, striking compositions, and exquisite use of light and shadow.
Early Life and Career
Sebastião Salgado was born in 1944 in Aimorés, a small town in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. He initially pursued a career in economics, obtaining a master's degree in the field before working for the International Coffee Organization in London. However, Salgado found his true calling in photography when he borrowed his wife Lélia Wanick Salgado's camera during a work trip to Africa in 1973.
Salgado decided to switch careers and dedicate himself to photography, working as a photojournalist for the Sygma, Gamma, and Magnum Photos agencies in the late 1970s and early 1980s. During this time, he documented numerous international conflicts and social issues, laying the foundation for his unique photographic style.
Photographic Style and Techniques
Sebastião Salgado's photography is characterized by its striking black and white imagery, rich tonality, and emotionally charged compositions. His work often portrays the resilience and dignity of marginalized and impoverished communities, with a strong focus on the human connection to the environment. Key elements of his style and techniques include:
Black and White Photography: Salgado's decision to work exclusively in black and white is a conscious choice, allowing him to create images with a timeless quality and to emphasize the emotional content of his subjects.
Long-term Projects: Salgado is known for his commitment to long-term photographic projects, often spending years immersed in the communities and environments he documents. This approach enables him to develop a deep understanding of his subjects and to capture their stories with authenticity and empathy.
Fine Art Printing: Salgado works closely with master printer Pablo Inirio to produce his photographs as silver gelatin prints, using traditional darkroom techniques to achieve exceptional tonal range and detail.
Career Highlights
Some notable highlights from Sebastião Salgado's illustrious career include:
The publication of his book Workers: An Archaeology of the Industrial Age (1993), which documents the lives of manual laborers around the world and stands as a testament to the dignity of work.
The creation of the Genesis project (2004-2011), a monumental eight-year journey to document the world's most pristine and untouched environments, culminating in a series of exhibitions and a book.
The establishment of the Instituto Terra in 1998, an environmental organization founded by Salgado and his wife Lélia, focused on the reforestation and conservation of Brazil's Atlantic Forest.
The release of the documentary film The Salt of the Earth (2014), co-directed by Wim Wenders and Salgado's son, Juliano Ribeiro Salgado, which provides an intimate look at the photographer's life and work.
Photography Gear
Throughout his career, Sebastião Salgado has used a variety of photography gear, including:
Cameras: Salgado has primarily used 35mm film cameras, such as the Leica M6 and the Canon EOS-1V, as well as medium format cameras like the Pentax 67 and the Mamiya 7.
Lenses: Salgado often relies on a selection of prime lenses, such as the Leica Summicron-M 35mm f/2 and the Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4, as well as medium format lenses for his Pentax and Mamiya cameras.
Film: Salgado has predominantly used Kodak Tri-X 400 black and white film for his 35mm work, while using medium format film for his larger format cameras.
Photography Books
"Sebastião Salgado: Genesis": This monumental book features Salgado's striking black and white photographs of untouched landscapes, wildlife, and remote communities. It offers practicing photographers a chance to learn from Salgado's mastery of capturing the essence of our planet's natural beauty. Readers will find inspiration in the images and gain insights into Salgado's techniques for creating powerful environmental portraits.
"Sebastião Salgado: Gold - Serra Pelada Gold Mine": In this book, Salgado documents the human struggle and perseverance of workers at the Serra Pelada gold mine in Brazil. Practicing photographers can learn from Salgado's ability to capture human emotions and convey the harsh realities of life in challenging environments. The book serves as a testament to the power of photography as a storytelling medium and a tool for raising awareness.
"Sebastião Salgado: Other Americas": This collection of images showcases Salgado's early work in Latin America, focusing on the lives of indigenous people and rural communities. The book provides practicing photographers with insights into Salgado's approach to documenting the human condition and the cultural diversity of the region. It offers inspiration for photographers looking to explore social issues and create evocative visual narratives.
"Kuwait: A Desert on Fire": In this book, Salgado captures the devastation and environmental impact of the burning oil fields in Kuwait during the Gulf War. Readers can learn from his ability to document complex and challenging subjects while creating visually striking images. The book encourages photographers to explore the power of photography in raising awareness of critical environmental issues.
"Sebastião Salgado: An Uncertain Grace": This collection features a wide range of Salgado's work, including images from his major projects, such as "Workers," "Migrations," and "Genesis." Practicing photographers can benefit from studying Salgado's unique style, compositions, and ability to tell powerful stories through his images. The book offers an opportunity to learn from a master photographer and find inspiration in his remarkable body of work.
Quotes
"Photography is a way of life. When you pick up a camera and you look through the viewfinder, you see life in a different way."
"I don't believe a person has a style. What people have is a way of photographing what is inside them. What is there comes out."
"If you take a picture of a human that does not make him noble, there is no reason to take this picture. That is my way of seeing things."
"We are animals, born from the land with the other species. Since we've been living in cities, we've become more and more stupid, not smarter. What made us survive all these hundreds of thousands of years is our spirituality; the link to our land."
"I photograph the way I see. The way I see as a consequence of the way I live, of my choices."
Legacy and Influence
Sebastião Salgado's work has had a profound impact on the world of photography and beyond, inspiring countless photographers to engage with social and environmental issues through their art. His dedication to long-term projects and his commitment to social and environmental causes have set a high standard for future generations of documentary photographers.
Photographers such as James Nachtwey, Steve McCurry, and Mary Ellen Mark have been influenced by Salgado's powerful imagery and his dedication to documenting the human condition. Through his work, Salgado has not only raised awareness of critical global issues but also helped to redefine the role of the photographer as a witness, storyteller, and advocate for change. His legacy continues to inspire and challenge photographers to use their art as a tool for social transformation and environmental conservation.