đ Share this article Brian Harris Obituary: A Life Behind the Lens The photojournalist Brian Harris, who has died at the age of 73 of cancer, ended his schooling at 16 to work as a courier, and went on to become one of the most respected British documentary photographers of his era. A Global Professional Journey He travelled the world as a independent or a employee for Fleet Street titles, covering major happenings including the collapse of the Berlin Wall, famine in Ethiopia and Sudan, the Troubles in Northern Ireland, war zones in the Balkan region and across Africa, the aftermath of the Falklands conflict and several US presidential campaigns. Additionally, he produced lyrical landscapes of the countryside around his Essex home. By his own calculation he shot over two million images, averaging 100 a day, but he stated that figure some years back. He kept sharing archive and new images daily on social media until a short time before his passing, and had been arranging to give a talk on his career and experiences. Memorable Projects Stories from a turbulent career included an expenses-shredding business class flight in 1991 to reach the burial in India of the slain politician Rajiv Gandhi, where he collapsed from heatstroke and pneumonia and was cooled down with ice that had been employed to cool the body. His 1983âs images of the then Labour party leader Neil Kinnock with his wife, Glenys, falling into the sea on Brighton beach were carried across eight columns of a front page, and are often reprinted as a striking example of staged photo hubris. His 2016 memoir, ... And Then the Prime Minister Hit Me, was named after an exasperated John Major striking him with a rolled-up briefing paper. Professional Highlights He became the Timesâ youngest ever staff photographer when he joined the paper in 1976, at the age of 26, and was based around the world for nearly a decade, 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 put together to create a new newspaper. He played a key role in forming the style of editorial photography that the paper was famous for, helping raise the bar for press images and broadsheet design, in dramatic images covering multiple pages. Among many awards, he was honoured as the industry-recognised photographer of the year in 1990 for his work in the former Eastern Bloc recording the collapse of communism. He operated independently after being let go in 1999, and major projects thereafter included a year spent photographing cemeteries across the world in 2006 for the war memorial organisation, which led to an display launched in London â where he gave a personal tour to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh â and a emotional book, Remembered. Background and Start Harris was born in east London, to Dorothy and Leonard Harris, an electrician who later assisted him build a darkroom in the garage. In the 1950s, the family relocated farther east â and up in the world â to the Rise Park housing estate in Romford, Essex. Brian went to Chase Cross secondary modern school, learning practical skills in woodwork and metal crafting, before departing at 16. At a Fleet Street agency, he rose rapidly from messenger boy to photographer, and launched his working life at east London local papers before progressing to national publications. Colleagues and Legacy Other photographers, often scooped by him, recalled his work as remarkable. Nick Turpin, who collaborated with him in the initial stages, called him âa superb and brave photographerâ, an influence to a generation of junior colleagues. Tim Dawson, a union representative, said he âtransformed the possibilities of news photography during newspapersâ last golden ageâ. Private World In 2001 Harris made contact through a website with Nikki, whom he had first met as a three-year-old in infant school, and they became close companions through his remaining years. After learning of his illness, they went on a road trip in Europe, posting sunny images of fine dining and good wine, and returning to important sites including Dresden and Ypres. His last task, completed a short time before his death, was to transfer his vast archive of five decades of work to a long-term repository. Among his favourite historical photos he commented on a youthful Harris consuming generous servings of wine with the actor Helen Mirren: âWhat a fortunate life Iâve had â no regrets and no âMust Doâsââ. He was wed twice, each union concluded with divorce. He is remembered by Nikki, his son Jacob, from his second marriage, Nikkiâs daughter, Holly, and by his sister, Jan.