What a sad news. I only knew him from the 2019 meet up he organised in Scotland.
A few memories from the week:
• Most days, I woke up early to photograph a dipper’s nest close to the lodge. Every time, I thought I was first but Dave was always gone already, to catch the first light up a mountain pass.
• Despite the disease, whose symptoms were already obvious, I saw him jump over a barbed wire fence to reach a little wood on a hill. I’ve been here many times, I know there is a photo here, he said, but I can’t find it and I keep coming back.
• We were driving through the mountains when he told us to stop right there. Out of the car, and with a big smile, he showed me a spot and framed a picture with his hands and said: I sold this picture 5000$, twice.
• The best advice of the week was from him: you have a great sky, find something to put under!
I will always remember his recollection of a trip back to UK from an assignment in Japan. As a young photographer with no contract awaiting him, he decided to come back by train across Russia. At each stop, he was interrogated by the police and/or the KGB. They could not figure out why someone would choose to go from Japan to UK this way. With his photo gear, the only explanation that made sense to them was that he was a British spy, so he was closely monitored during the whole journey. The funny thing is that back to UK, he was also interrogated by the secret service, because they could not figure out why he would choose to spend so much time in Russia. The only explanation they had was that he was a Russian spy :)
I keep very fond memories of our discussions. I’ll miss you, Dave, rest in peace.
Condolences to his wife and son and family.
