(b Aimor?s, Minas Gerais, 8 Feb 1944). Brazilian photographer. He first trained as an economist at universities in Brazil and the USA (1964-8). While studying for a doctorate in agricultural economics at the University of Paris (1969-71), Salgado started to take photographs. Working as an economist for the London-based International Coffee Organization (1971-3), he visited Africa for the first time. He then moved to Paris and began to work as a photojournalist through the photographic agencies Sygma (1974) and Gamma (1975-9), travelling extensively in Africa, Europe and Latin America. In 1979 he joined Magnum and continued to photograph throughout the world but left the agency in 1994 to work independently. Salgado's major achievement was a series of lengthy documentary projects in the developing nations: refugees and famine in Africa, the plight of peasants in South America and the decline of heavy industries around the world. His photographs were in the tradition of 'concerned photography' and were strong compositions in a vivid style, often alluding to biblical iconography. They were widely published and exhibited and brought him international recognition and numerous photojournalistic awards.
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