A County Durham author has penned a book about a renowned photographer's career, including his visit to the North East.
John Cogan, a former headteacher, has captured the life and work of photographer Ian Berry in a new book, 50 years after Berry’s visit to the North East coalfields.
Mr Cogan, who met Mr Berry over a meal at the Brasserie Blanc in Covent Garden, has documented the photographer’s 70-year career.
This includes Mr Berry’s coverage of globally significant events, such as the Sharpeville massacre, the aftermath of Aberfan, and the Three Gorges Dam Project.
Mr Berry, originally from Lancashire, moved to South Africa in 1952 and taught himself photography.
He worked for the Daily Mail and Drum magazine before joining the Magnum staff, gaining fame as the only photographer present at the Sharpeville massacre in South Africa.
His photographs were presented in court as proof of no wrongdoing on the part of the protesters.
In 1974, after a trip to Yugoslavia, Mr Berry visited the industrial North East and captured the coalfield communities of County Durham and Northumberland.
His image of clean washing hanging on the line in a near-deserted Ashington terrace, which features on page 122 of the book, is said to perfectly capture a moment in time when coal was king.
Mr Berry said: "Being a Northerner I spent quite a lot of time shooting in both the East and West, perhaps trying to discover my roots.
"The North East was especially exciting because of the architecture and the social contrasts.
"Perhaps my favourite images are of three cloth-capped men passing in front of Durham Cathedral contrasting the washing amongst the back-to-backs in Washington."
The book, titled 'The Quiet Man of Magnum', tells the story of Mr Berry’s career through his striking images and first-hand memories.
It portrays Mr Berry as a daring, innovative, and instantly likeable character, with a reputation for telling globally significant stories through pictures.
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The 185-page book was published by the Tyneside-based Allies Group.
Mr Berry joined Mr Cogan and the Allies team at Allies’ Newcastle Quayside offices for a book signing.
For those interested in Mr Berry’s work, signed copies of 'The Quiet Man of Magnum' are available for purchase on Amazon.
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