1934 -
| Names: | Ian Berry |
| Date of Birth: | 1934 |
| Date of Death: | |
| Place of Birth: | Lancashire, England |
| Place of Death: | |
| Gender: | Male |
| In Summary : | Photographer |
 |
His Life:
Born in Lancashire
in 1934 Ian Berry moved to South Africa in 1952. Roger Madden, a South African
photographer who had worked as an assistant to Ansel Adams, vouched for
him as an immigrant and taught him the technical basics of photography while
employing him as an assistant. Berry worked for Madden for a year, becoming
an enthusiastic amateur himself. From there he proceeded to work at a photographic
studio, driving around the country photographing small-town communities.
During this period he met Jurgen Schadeberg, another European immigrant
and photographer. A newspaper employed Schadeberg and he and Berry spent
their free time photographing weddings.
Schadeberg was employed by Drum magazine and was offered a position
as photographer at the new African Sunday newspaper eGoli. He turned
down
the offer, but
recommended Berry. EGoli closed down only ten months after Berry's
employment and he moved on to a new position at the Benoni City Times.
Soon he also
left this position to open his own studio, but became bored with the
restrictions
of studio portraiture. Berry decided to make his living as a freelancer,
travelling around Africa. He contacted Camera Press in London, who
displayed interest in him, sold the studio and returned to the UK for
a brief time
before starting his travels.
| Outside Links | |
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Ian Berry: Biography |
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Ian Berry: Gallary, Timelines and Lnks |
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Ian Berry: Reputation |
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Due to financial constraints Berry was forced to return to South Africa
and took a position with the Rand Daily Mail. Here, under editor Gander,
he developed his knowledge and understanding of South African politics and
covered the Treason Trial for the newspaper. Eighteen months after starting
at the Rand Daily Mail Berry heard the Tom Hopkinson, the previous editor
of the British magazine Picture Post, was coming to South Africa to take
over as editor for Drum magazine. He contacted Hopkinson and secured a position
at the magazine through Schadeberg, who was employed as picture editor.
During the next few months Berry was exposed to a great deal of political
violence, starting with the Sharpeville massacre. When Hopkinson decided
to leave the magazine Berry decided to go too with the hopes of joining
the photographic cooperative, Magnum. As soon as he was independent
he started
sending images to Magnum's Paris office.
Ian Berry left South Africa in 1961 and in 1962 he relocated to Paris
where he became an associate member of Magnum. On his return to England,
five
years later, he became a full member.