The Salt of The Earth * * * *

Like most people I could name some of the great photographers from the 30s through to the 70’s and recognise an iconic photograph or two from each of them. But I have to admit that I had not heard of the photographer Sebastiao Salgado until I saw this excellent documentary.  Perhaps it is because the majority of his work was done after the death of the great periodicals such as Life that made household names of Margaret Bourke White, Robert Capa, Walker Evans etc

Sebastiao Salgado is still alive and contributes openly, but with natural modesty, to this film. Listening to his voice over as he enlightens us on the circumstance behind many of his photographs is a great benefit. Shooting in black and white, the primary motivation in the majority of his work is showing humanity at both its finest and cruelest, commencing with truly amazing images of the crazy DIY gold mine in Serra Pelada. Salgado would travel to places that most of us would stay as far away from as possible: Ethiopia during famine, Rwanda during the monstrous genocide, North Brazil during drought and Serbia during the conflict with Croatia. Many of the images are so disturbing you wonder how he could photograph a situation of such suffering and compose it so perfectly - indeed, beautifully. But that has always been the dilemma of the great photographer and as my friend suggested afterward: “Perhaps it wasn't so hard for him to make it perfect.” Like an instrument in the hand of a maestro that’s just the way he does it. But even when documenting some of the most horrendous situations he would always include an image of hope, compassion and even humour. There is much uplifting work too especially in the North Pole among the Nenet tribe in North Russia and the recently discovered Zoe tribe in Brazil.

After taking us through his lifes work the film concludes on his current project with his wife of fifty years  Lelia, who he has always wholly trusted with the editing of his work. It is an optimistic ending to a career beautifully documented in this excellent  film by Wim Wenders.