Few photojournalists have changed the course of history, but this one did – remembering Ian Berry

Magnum photojournalist Ian Berry has passed away after a brief illness. Born in Preston, Lancashire in 1934, Berry moved to South Africa in 1952 and worked alongside South African photographer Roger Madden, who had previously been an assistant to renowned landscape photographer Ansel Adams. Over the course of his extensive 17-year career, Berry captured iconic images that played a pivotal role in shaping South African history.

Most notably, his photographs of the Sharpeville Massacre in 1960, in which 69 people were killed and 249 were injured, brought global attention to the atrocities of apartheid. Despite the apartheid regime's refusal to publish his images in South Africa, Berry’s photos were distributed internationally, and later featured in renowned publications such as LIFE, Paris Match, and the Observer Magazine.

Berry's work extended beyond South Africa, covering stories of conflict in various nations, including China, Czechoslovakia, Ethiopia, Israel, Ireland, the Republic of Congo, Vietnam, and the former USSR. His presence in these diverse locales, including his daring encounters with danger, such as being arrested for espionage, hit by a rubber bullet, and facing a firing squad in Katanga, underscored his commitment to his craft and the truth.

Berry's contributions were recognized with numerous accolades, including being named an Honorary Fellow of the University of Lancashire and the Royal Photographic Society. His legacy endures through his powerful visual documentation of apartheid-era South Africa, encapsulated in key books such as "Black and Whites: l’Afrique du Sud" and "Living Apart," both featuring forewords from esteemed figures like former French President François Mitterrand and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Berry’s enduring impact on the world of photojournalism and his unwavering dedication to capturing the truth through his lens remain a significant part of photographic history.