Magnum photographer Philip Jones Griffiths, father of Katherine and Fanny (with him above, at Magnum's anniversary celebration last year), former lover of Donna Ferrato and mentor of Chien-Chi Chang, among many others, has died after a long war with cancer. I think it was colon cancer that he started out with when I first visited him in hospital in New York a long time ago. Then it was liver and finally lung. He managed to complete books, lectures, and pictures as well as travel all over the world between treatments. Here is one of the last interviews he gave in London, cracking jokes at the brink of the grave. He liked his jokes, did Philip, as well as beautiful women and his own opinions. He was passionate about photography and photographers and the ravages of war. He lived large and died fighting. Peace, now.
fanny and katherine and I were with him in the bed when he died at ten to two am. it was very beautiful exa ctly the way he wanted it - no doctors, no hospital, lots of drugs, and no pain.
ReplyDeleteIt's been quite a ride.
love, D
Gone in Peace. My thoughts are with his loved ones.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear this sad news. My one conversation with him was in Viet Nam, where he was an old hand, and Peter and I total novices. He was gracious, funny, welcoming, and very willing to spend time helping us figure out what we were doing. Donna, Katherine and Fanny, my heart goes out to you.
ReplyDeleteA lovely man. My deepest sympathy to his friends and family.
ReplyDeletethe Times obit
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/19/obituaries/19cnd-griffiths.html?ref=obituaries