Celebrated photographer and picture editor Eamonn McCabe died suddenly and unexpectedly at age 74.
McCabe had several different successful careers in photography. He first made his name as an award-winning sports photographer working for the UK Sunday newspaper The Observer in the 1970s and 80s, where he earned Sports Photographer of the Year on four occasions.
He then turned to the other side of the newspaper picture desk becoming picture editor for The Guardian. But he refused to hang up his camera, becoming a successful portrait photographer.
The cause of death has not been made public.
From The Guardian:
McCabe was a multi-award-winning sports photographer at the Observer from 1976 and later became a trailblazing picture editor of the Guardian at a key moment in its history. His third act was as a portrait photographer, with 29 examples of his work in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery.
McCabe’s death at his home in Suffolk on Sunday was sudden and unexpected. His wife, Rebecca Smithers, a former Guardian journalist, said McCabe was a kind, modest and encouraging character.
“He was very generous to younger photographers coming up through the system,” she said. “He was very encouraging. He would give big lectures but also talk to tiny little camera clubs in village halls. If people wanted to hear about his work he was happy to do that.”
The war photographer Don McCullin described McCabe as a lovely and straightforward man. “He was very passionate about photography and whenever you dealt with him he was always honest and a very nice human being. Like most of us, his life was photography.”
McCabe’s wife, Rebecca Smithers, paid tribute in a message on Twitter:
“So proud of my lovely husband and everything he achieved. He would be delighted by all these tributes…”
Ben McCabe expressed gratitude for the “warm and welcome” piece written about his father by The Guardian.
“Warm and welcome piece about my Dad who died yesterday. Great to read the words ‘kind’ and ‘encouraging’ so often. That’s exactly how he was with me. Feeling very lucky to have his photographs, writings (and more), friends, family and their stories of him to spend time with.”
Several others paid tribute on social media, following the sad news of his passing.
