The British-born war photographer Tim Page, who was the model for the photojournalist played by Dennis Hopper in the film Apocalypse Now, has died at the age of 78.
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Seriously wounded several times while still in his early 20s, Page was declared dead on one occasion before making full recovery. He spent three and a half years of action-packed life in Vietnam and for a time shared a flat with Sean Flynn, son of film-star Errol. After Sean’s disappearance, Page spent several years searching for his friend, eventually discovering that he had been executed.
After returning to Vietnam for the Tet Offensive, Page worked as a freelance for music magazines and later covered wars in other parts of the world. Returning to England in 1979, he eventually settled in Australia, becoming a professor of photojournalism at Griffith University, Queensland.
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I was lucky enough to see Tim’s exhibition “21” at the Leica Gallery in Melbourne. The photos – all taken with a Leica 21mm , and from various war torn countries but not actual combat scenes – were an incredible example of a master of wide angle focal lengths.
These photogs are a different breed. Catherine LeRoy was my intro to them. They would have 3/4 cameras hanging from neck Leicas Nikons Canon etc..same w the official military photogs of the war. The saddest part is the things they die from like lung cancer, diabetes etc are the same that vets are dying from, the difference being they never got compensated for Agent Orange connection. I retired as American Legion service officer, and my job was to get compensation for military for service connected illness. So the same Agent Orange saturated area the military operated same with photogs but nobody took care of them. Catherine was even captured by Charlie and escaped few days later, still miss that woman. We left VietNam it didn’t leave us!
Many of the pictures of Tim Page I’ve seen in the press over the weekend show him with two Leicas draped around his neck. Unfortunately, I couldn’t reproduce any of them for copyright reasons, but I was strongly tempted.
And a XPAN
https://www.nzgeo.com/photography/tim-page/
Belated congratulations Mike for Macfilos and all your ideas and perseverance. I discovered the site during Covid and have been an avid follower since. Agree 100% with what the others have written.
Apropos this featured story, I can recommend a book entitled Requiem, by the photographers who died in Vietnam and Indochina, edited by Horst Faas and Tim Page.
Long may your inspirations keep coming and those from your contributors!
Thank you, Mark. Perhaps we can persuade you to put pen to paper and let us have your contribution! Mike
Ben Smith conducted a great interview with Tim Page on The Small Voice podcast some time ago. Worth a listen.
Sad to read this report. Not many veteran war photo-journalists remain from those distant times. Thanks for recoding Tim’s passing. They seldom hit the headlines.