Ian Berry... The Quiet Man of Magnum

From the Silk Road to Sicily and Africa to Aberfan, photographic royalty Ian Berry has captured every corner of the world in his own, inimitable style. And more than 70 years after embarking on a celebrated career in photojournalism, a compelling new 185-page book compiles the very best of his striking work. Ian Berry… The Quiet Man Of Magnum tells the story of a daring, innovative and instantly likeable character, who forged a reputation for telling globally significant stories through illuminating images. His life through a lens is documented by long-time friend and author John Cogan — a former head teacher who first met Berry over a meal at the Brasserie Blanc in Covent Garden. The pair have combined to bring to life a memorable career that’s taken in the infamous Sharpeville massacre, the aftermath of Aberfan and the Three Gorges Dam Project. Berry’s international reputation precedes him but he was equally renowned for capturing communities across the UK, from the industrial heartlands of the East Durham coalfields and Manchester to the more serene setting of Salisbury Cathedral. All of this and more features in a fabulous document of a career well travelled and a career that continues to this day. Ian Berry was born in Lancashire and moved to South Africa in 1952. Having taught himself photography, he landed jobs with the Daily Mail and Drum magazine before joining the Magnum staff. Berry had shot to fame as the only photographer present at the Sharpeville massacre, in the South African township of Transvaal, when 69 people were killed at a peaceful protest gone wrong. His photographs were later presented in court as proof of no wrongdoing on the protesters’ part.