Noilton Pereira: Solidarity photography in the sertão of Bahia

Photographer Noilton Pereira, from Bahia, builds a photographic practice deeply rooted in the sertão (backlands) of Bahia and in social commitment. Living in Ruy Barbosa, in the interior of the state, he has turned photography into an instrument of community transformation, uniting his work in motivational lectures with a practice of “solidarity photography” that benefits underprivileged families in the region. His photographic trajectory, which began ten years ago during visits to vulnerable communities, evolved into a concrete tool of support – generating resources for building houses and donating food baskets through his work with the lens.

His image “Drought in the Sertão“, a finalist in the Single Image category of the FotoDoc Photo Contest 2025, is a visceral record of the impacts of drought in the sertão of Bahia. Captured during the most critical period of the drought, the photograph documents the death of fish due to lack of water, turning them into a powerful symbol of the resistance of the sertanejo people. More than a documentary record, the image marks a new phase in how Noilton sees photography – perceiving its potential not only as denunciation but also as historical testimony and a tribute to the strength of those who survive the adversities of the semi-arid region. The work perfectly synthesizes his mission: to use the lens to give visibility to the harshest realities of the Bahian interior while generating concrete support for the portrayed communities.

Learn more about this journey of engaged photography and the editorial projects in development in the following interview.

How old are you? Where do you currently live and work?

I am 54 years old and I live in Ruy Barbosa, in the interior of Bahia, and I work with motivational lectures and solidarity photography.

Tell us about your journey in photography. When did you start photographing and why? What role does photography play in your life?

Photography entered my life 10 years ago during a visit to underprivileged communities.
Today, my photography helps underprivileged families in the interior of Bahia with the construction of houses and the donation of food baskets.

Tell us about your finalist work for the FotoDoc Photo Contest 2025. When and where was it created? What is its concept? How does it fit into your photographic practice?

The selected photograph was taken during the drought period in the sertão of Bahia. During the drought, the fish die due to lack of water. The fish represents the strength of the people of the sertão and marks a new phase in my way of seeing photography.

What projects are you currently working on? What are your near-future plans for photographic production?

I am currently photographing and building houses for low-income families.

Soon I will be launching a book with photographs that will serve as historical records of the people of the sertão of Bahia.