Tag Archives: salgado

Panel Talk: Sebastião Salgado Tribute

Posted on August 15, 2025 | Leave a comment

It was such an honour to be invited by AP Magazine to pay tribute and to honour the wonderful and inspiring Sebastião Salgado, who very sadly passed away earlier this year.

Festival of Photography – Documentary, Amateur Photographer Magazine. Panel talk: Sebastião Salgado tribute. L-R: Ian Berry (Magnum Photos) and Nigel Atherton (AP Magazine’s editor). The Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London, UK. August 09, 2025. Photo: Sophie Ward

The event was organised by Amateur Photographer Magazine and called Festival of Photography – Documentary, at The Royal Geographical Society in London. The tribute panel closed the day’s talks to a practically packed out Everest Room.

Festival of Photography – Documentary, Amateur Photographer Magazine. Panel talk: Sebastião Salgado tribute. Edmond Terakopian (photojournalist) in conversation. The Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London, UK. August 09, 2025. Photo: Sophie Ward

The talk was chaired by Nigel Atherton (AP Magazine’s editor) and involved a conversation between Ian Berry (Magnum Photos), Neil Burgess (agent) and myself.

Festival of Photography – Documentary, Amateur Photographer Magazine. Panel talk: Sebastião Salgado tribute. L-R: Edmond Terakopian (photojournalist) and Neil Burgess (agent). The Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London, UK. August 09, 2025. Photo: Sophie Ward

With thanks to Sophie Ward for the wonderful photographs from the event.

[general caption] Festival of Photography – Documentary, Amateur Photographer Magazine. Panel talk: Sebastião Salgado tribute. L-R: Edmond Terakopian (photojournalist), Neil Burgess (agent), Ian Berry (Magnum Photos) and Nigel Atherton (AP Magazine’s editor). The Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London, UK. August 09, 2025. Photos: Sophie Ward.

Sebastião Salgado, RIP

Posted on May 23, 2025 | Leave a comment

(February 8, 1944 – May 23, 2025)

Absolutely heartbroken to read of the death of Sebastião Salgado.

In Conversation With Salgado Sebastião. Photographer Sebastião Salgado introduces ‘The Salt Of The Earth’ ahead of the screening at the Science Museum’s IMAX Ronson Theatre. London, UK. February 23, 2022. Photo: ©Edmond Terakopian/2022

Such an immense inspiration to me that when I first discovered his Workers project as teenager, I would spend hours at a time, looking at the book. In time, looking became seeing and unknowingly, Salgado became a mentor, and more consciously, the main reason I realised photography should be my path.

I thought that if someone can make photographs like the ones from the Serra Pelada gold mine in Brazil, then the possabilities of what can be produced by a camera, is infinite.

I had the honour of meeting him and his wonderful wife Lélia several decades later, in 2013. When like an enthusiastic child I blurted out my story and admiration for his work. He was all that I had wished him to be from afar. A wonderful human being, compassionate, caring, enthusiastic, passionate and without any sense of pretentiousness. The sparkle in his eyes hinted at the immensity of the mind and soul. He spoke with me as if we were equal colleagues, bonded deeply through photography.

*Lélia Wanick Salgado, Edmond Terakopian and Sebastião Salgado at Taschen’s London book store for the signing of the Genesis book. April 10, 2013. Photo: Taschen London*

I hope my tears convey my deep love for your work and appreciation for you as a most wonderful human, dear Sebastião. Rest peacefully.

World premiere of Sebastião Salgado’s Genesis Exhibition, Natural History Museum, London. April 09, 2013. Video: ©Edmond Terakopian

Sebastião Salgado: Genesis

Posted on April 11, 2013 | 11 comments

The Unspoilt Planet

Sebastião Salgado: Genesis from Edmond Terakopian on Vimeo.

In 2004, Sebastião began the Genesis project, aimed at presenting the unblemished face of nature and humanity. Genesis consists of a series of landscape and wildlife photographs, as well as photographs of human communities that continue to live in accordance with their ancestral traditions and cultures, shot across 32 countries, over an eight year period. This body of work was conceived as a potential path to humanity’s rediscovery of itself in nature.

World premiere of Sebastiao Salgado’s Genesis Exhibition at the Natural History Museum in London, UK. April 09, 2013. Photo: Edmond Terakopian

Sebastião Salgado’s photographic exhibition Genesis is unveiled for its world premiere at the Natural History Museum on Thursday 11 April (and will run until September 8th, 2013). Edited, designed and curated by Lélia Wanick Salgado, the exhibition includes 200 epic black-and-white photographs that celebrate the majesty of nature and examine the balance of human relationships with our fragile planet.

World premiere of Sebastião Salgado’s Genesis Exhibition at the Natural History Museum in London, UK. April 09, 2013. Photo: Edmond Terakopian

Accompanying the exhibition is an equally amazing book published by Taschen. For the collector, there are bigger, limited edition volumes, with photographic prints.

Since elephants are hunted by poachers in Zambia, they are scared of humans and vehicles. Alarmed when they see an approaching car, they usually run quickly into the bush. Kafue National Park. Zambia. July and August 2010. Photo: © Sebastião SALGADO / Amazonas images/nbpictures

Speaking about the exhibition, Sebastião Salgado commented, ‘Genesis is about beginnings. It is about the unspoiled planet, the most pristine parts, and a way of life that is traditional and in harmony with nature. I wanted to present places that were untouched and remain so to this day.

World premiere of Sebastião Salgado’s Genesis Exhibition, Natural History Museum, London. April 09, 2013. Photo: Edmond Terakopian

I want people to see our planet in another way, to feel moved and be brought closer to it. I want them to become more conscious of the environment, to feel respect for nature because this is something that is relevant to everyone.’

Iceberg between Paulet Island and the South Shetland Islands on the Antarctic Channel. At sea level, earlier flotation levels are clearly visible where the ice has been polished by the ocean’s constant movement. High above, a shape resembling a castle tower has been carved by wind erosion and detached pieces of ice. The Antarctic Peninsula. January and February 2005. Photo: © Sebastião SALGADO / Amazonas images/nbpictures

Sebastião Salgado was a driving force behind me taking up photography as a career. When I first saw his image, often referred to as “the crucifix” from the open gold mine in Brazil, I was totally stunned; my mind and eyes were opened like never before, as I discovered a new way of seeing and an epic way of using a camera to convey a story. Personally I have never looked back. They say, one should never meet one’s heroes as disappointment is guaranteed. I’m thankful to say that when I met Sebastião Salgado and his wife, curator and editor Lélia Wanick Salgado at their book signing in Taschen’s London store, it was a special moment. Genuinely lovely, passionate and talented with absolute modesty and elegance. My career has always been inspired by the work and now I’m glad to say that it continues to be inspired by the person too.

Sebastião Salgado: Genesis book signing. Photographer Sebastião Salgado. TASCHEN Store London, 12 Duke of York Square, London. April 10, 2013. Photo: Edmond Terakopian

As a press launch (just like a private view) is never the best time to see an exhibition; one’s always busy working. From the parts of the exhibition I did manage to see, I cannot recommend this exhibition highly enough. I foresee that I’ll be visiting it several times over the coming weeks and months. It should be on everyone’s “to do” list. It is quite literally awesome. I also cannot recommend the book highly enough either. It’s an amazing body of work, with an extremely important message. Go see it.

Addendum: I went to see the exhibition and spent several hours wondering around the various rooms, exploring various aspects of the project. It is magnificent. Amazing imagery, amazing prints and very well curated too. One gets really drawn into the images, discovering amazing details and subtleties. Equally, stepping back from some of the images, brings the graphic elements of the composition to play. I cannot recommend this exhibition highly enough. Book your ticket and time slot and visit; it is quite literally awesome.

Sebastião Salgado: Genesis book signing. L-R: Lélia Wanick Salgado (wife, curator & editor of the book) and photographer Sebastião Salgado. TASCHEN Store London, 12 Duke of York Square, London. April 10, 2013. Photo: Edmond Terakopian

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Tagged book, conservation, exhibition, genesis, Lélia Wanick Salgado, natural history museum, nature, photography, pictures, reportage, salgado, Sebastião Salgado, signing, taschen