đ Share this article Brian Harris Obituary: A Life Behind the Camera The photographer B. Harris, who passed away at the age of 73 from cancer, left school at 16 to become a messenger boy, and went on to become one of the most respected British documentary photographers of his era. An International Professional Journey He travelled the world as a freelance or a employee for Fleet Street publications, covering major happenings including the fall of the Berlin Wall, drought and hunger in Ethiopia and Sudan, the Troubles in Northern Ireland, battlefields in the Balkans and throughout Africa, the consequences of the Falklands war and several US election campaigns. Additionally, he produced poetic scenic views of the countryside around his home county of Essex home. According to his estimates he shot more than two million photographs, taking an average of 100 a day, but he stated that figure some years back. He continued posting historical and recent images each day on social media up to a short time before his death, and had been arranging to give a talk on his life and work. Memorable Projects Stories from a turbulent career featured an costly premium flight in 1991 to reach the funeral in India of the assassinated leader Rajiv Gandhi, where he collapsed from heatstroke and pneumonia and was treated with ice that had been used to preserve the body. His 1983 images of the then Labour party leader Neil Kinnock with his wife, Glenys, falling into the sea on Brighton beach were published across eight columns of a front page, and are regularly reproduced as a hideous example of staged photo hubris. His 2016âs memoir, ... And Then the Prime Minister Hit Me, took the title from an irritated John Major striking him with a rolled-up briefing paper. Career Highlights He became the Timesâ most youthful staff photographer when he started there in 1976, at the age of 26, and was based around the world for almost ten years, including reporting of the end of the internal conflict in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). He later stepped down over what he saw as editing of his most powerful images of starvation in Africa. In 1986 Harris became chief photographer as the team was assembled to launch a major newspaper. He was instrumental in forming the style of journalistic photography that the paper became known for, helping raise the bar for news photography and newspaper design, in striking images filling front and back pages. Among many awards, he was honoured as the industry-recognised photographer of the year in 1990 for his work in eastern Europe documenting the fall of communism. He operated independently after being let go in 1999, and significant projects after that included a year spent photographing cemeteries across the world in 2006 for the war memorial organisation, which resulted in an display launched in London â where he gave a personal tour to Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh â and a moving book, Remembered. Background and Start Harris was born in eastern London, to Dorothy and Leonard Harris, an technician who later helped his son construct a photo lab in the garage. In the 1950s, the family moved eastwards â and up in the world â to the Rise Park estate in Romford, Essex. Brian attended Chase Cross secondary modern school, acquiring useful skills in woodwork and metal crafting, before departing at 16. At a Fleet Street photo agency, he rose rapidly from messenger boy to photographer, and began his professional career at eastern London local papers before moving on to major publications. Peers and Legacy Fellow photographers, often scooped by him, recalled his work as remarkable. Nick Turpin, who worked with him in the early days, called him âa superb and brave photographerâ, an inspiration to a cohort of young colleagues. Another associate, a union representative, said he âreimagined the possibilities of news photography during newspapersâ last golden ageâ. Private World In 2001 Harris reconnected through a website with Nikki Bertroya, whom he had initially encountered as a toddler in infant school, and they became inseparable partners through his remaining years. After learning of his illness, they went on a road trip in Europe, sharing sunny images of good meals and quality drinks, and returning to significant sites including Dresden and Ypres. His final project, finished a short time before his demise, was to transfer his extensive collection of 55 yearsâ work to a long-term repository. Among his favourite archive images he reflected on a youthful Harris consuming generous servings of wine with the actor Helen Mirren: âWhat a blessed life Iâve had â no remorse and no âMust Doâsââ. He was wed twice, each union ended in divorce. He is survived by Nikki, his son Jacob, from his later union, Nikkiâs daughter, Holly, and by his sister, Jan.