Sahara, Algeria

2009

Gelatin silver print

Born in Brazil, the photographer began his career as an economist before shifting to photography in 1973. Salgado has covered major news events as well as pursuing more personal and in-depth documentary projects. More than any other living photographer his images of the world's poor stand in tribute to the human condition. Salgado defines his work as "militant photography" that he dedicates to "the best comprehension of man" and with his unique vision and empathy he gives us a picture of humanity that renders the human condition with honesty and respect. -Sebastião Salgado describing his new project, GENESIS - "I have named this project GENESIS because my aim is to return to the beginnings of our planet: to the air, water and the fire that gave birth to life, to the animal species that have resisted domestication, to the remote tribes whose 'primitive' way of life is still untouched, to the existing examples of the earliest forms of human settlement and organisation. A potential path towards humanity's rediscovery of itself. So many times I've photographed stories taht show the degradation of the planet, I thought the only way to give us an incentive, to bring hope, is to show the pictures of the pristine planet - to see the innocence. And then we can understand what we must preserve." -Sebastião Salgado