Sebastiao Salgado

Date of Birth: February 8, 1944

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Biography

Sebastião Salgado is a renowned Brazilian social documentary photographer and photojournalist. Born on February 8, 1944, in Aimorés, Minas Gerais, Brazil, Salgado initially pursued a career in economics and earned a master’s degree in the field. However, his passion for photography took over, and he transitioned into a life behind the camera in the early 1970s. Salgado’s work is characterized by its powerful black-and-white images that capture the raw essence of human struggle and the environment. Over the decades, he has traveled to over 120 countries, documenting everything from the lives of indigenous tribes in South America to the ravages of famine in Africa. His projects are often long-term and deeply immersive, resulting in several critically acclaimed photo books, including “Workers,” “Migrations,” and “Genesis.” In addition to his photography, Salgado is also an environmental activist. Along with his wife, Lélia Wanick Salgado, he founded the Instituto Terra in Brazil, a non-profit organization focused on reforestation and ecological restoration.

5 Interesting Facts about Sebastiao Salgado

1. Sebastião Salgado started his career as an economist and worked for the International Coffee Organization before becoming a photographer.

2. His project “Genesis” took eight years to complete and focused on capturing the untouched beauty of the natural world.

3. Salgado has received numerous awards, including the W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund Grant for Humanistic Photography and the Prince of Asturias Award for Arts.

4. He and his wife transformed a barren cattle ranch in Brazil into a lush forest, planting over 2 million trees.

5. His work has been exhibited in some of the world’s most prestigious galleries and museums, including the International Center of Photography in New York and the Natural History Museum in London.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Sebastiao Salgado

1. “It is more important to click with people than to click the shutter.”

2. “Photography is not objective. It is deeply subjective—my photography is consistent ideologically and ethically with the person I am.”

3. “I’m not an optimist by nature, but I have to look at the world as it is and find a way to remain positive.”

4. “When you work in the field, your soul is exposed.”

5. “We must rebuild our forests, our rivers, and our ecosystems to ensure the survival of future generations.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Sebastião Salgado’s highest net worth is estimated to be around $5 million.

Children

Sebastião Salgado has two sons, Juliano Ribeiro Salgado, who is a filmmaker and worked on the documentary “The Salt of the Earth” about his father’s life and work, and Rodrigo Salgado.