For the last 40 years, internationally renowned photographer Sebastião Salgado has been travelling in the footsteps of what has been called “an ever-changing humanity”. He has witnessed some of the most dramatic, major events of our recent history such as mass starvation and exodus, and his lens was there to chronicle what unfolded, every step of the way. To call his work from that time arresting would be an understatement, its beauty is brutal.

When tonight’s documentary, THE SALT OF THE EARTH kicks off he is instead focusing on the good in the world, embarking on the discovery of pristine territories and wild fauna and flora as part of a huge photographic project which is a tribute to the planet's beauty and resilience. It is in sharp relief to the despair of his earlier images and is a great place to start.

For the last 40 years, internationally renowned photographer Sebastião Salgado has been travelling in the footsteps of what has been called “an ever-changing humanity”. He has witnessed some of the most dramatic, major events of our recent history such as mass starvation and exodus, and his lens was there to chronicle what unfolded, every step of the way. To call his work from that time arresting would be an understatement, its beauty is brutal.

When tonight’s documentary, THE SALT OF THE EARTH kicks off he is instead focusing on the good in the world, embarking on the discovery of pristine territories and wild fauna and flora as part of a huge photographic project which is a tribute to the planet's beauty and resilience. It is in sharp relief to the despair of his earlier images and is a great place to start.

As well as incredibly beautiful, the documentary is insanely affecting as it covers the aforementioned period when his work was devoted to chronicling moments of unimaginable human misery. It looks at his series” The Workers," which features locations such as the Sierra Pelada mine in Brazil and the countless people employed to dig out the gold in the hopes that their back-breaking, life threatening labour will one day pay off. The series "Sahel," which he produced in conjunction with Doctors Without Borders, looks at the famine in Ethiopia and the attempt by many to journey to what they hoped to be a better life in the Sudan. Its images are heartbreaking and literally sear themselves onto your mind, whilst in a similar vein, "Exodus" looks at the plight of refugees from Rwanda and Yugoslavia during their respective troubles in the Nineties.

Some critics have charged him with transforming the miseries of the Third World into “attractive” images for Westerners to gaze at in art galleries, and this aspect isn’t explored by co-director Wim Wenders who is clearly a massive fan. His co-director is Juliano Ribeiro Salgado, son of the subject matter at hand and also obviously in awe of his father’s talent. I picked up on the underlying theme of how much the younger Salgado clearly missed having his dad around when growing up as Salgado the elder threw himself into his work. It’s a classic old school, bohemian offspring scenario, when your parent(s) is out achieving amazing things in the name of art, whilst you are left with either near-strangers or (usually) your mother, who is simmering with anger that her own artistic goals have never been achieved. But I digress!

THE SALT OF THE EARTH comes highly recommended, and also moved me to urge you watch a handful of my other favourite documentaries about world-changing photographic talents…

Finding Vivian Maier
This film made its Rialto Channel debut last year and is the story of a woman who has been hailed by many as one of the great street photographers of the 20th century. Maier made her living as a nanny, and while combing the streets of Chicago, New York, and other cities with her young charges in tow, she made more than 100,000 images, often stashing away the undeveloped film and negatives in suitcases. After her death in 2009, John Maloof unwittingly acquired a trove of Maier’s negatives at auction. Overwhelmed by what he found, he has subsequently set out to uncover Maier’s story and publicise her work.

Annie Leibovitz: Life Through A Lens
A look at the life and career of one of modern photography’s most famous shooters and still a major force in the media today. From her beginnings at Rolling Stone magazine to her latest work with Vogue, this documentary gives some insight intoLeibovitz’s process. The extra features are particularly worth watching, with some fascinating perspectives given by some of her most intriguing subjects.

Bill Cunningham New York
New York Times photographer Bill Cunningham has been obsessively documenting the fashion world of New York City for decades and like Leibovitz, is still out there producing amazing work. This film tells the story of both the work and character of a photographer who is most definitelt driven by his passion. 

Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Impassioned Eye
Upon his death in 2004 at the age of 96, photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson was mourned as "the father of photojournalism". This amazing documentary by director Heinz Bütler offers a rare moment alone with the shy photographer as he explores his portfolio and offers detailed insight into the remarkable images that moved millions and lesser-known work.

Richard Avedon - Darkness and Light
The incredible Avedon died in 2004, but he left tons of legendary photographs taken for Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and The New Yorker. This documentary - released in the American Masters series dedicated to outstanding American artists and their work – goes into his background as well as covering his most iconic fashion photography and portraits of famous people.