The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Photographer of the famous dies
Photographer Terry O’Neill has died at the age of 81. Mr O’Neill, who rose to fame with his work with The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, died at home on Saturday following a long illness.
In tribute, singer Sir Elton John tweeted: “Terry O’Neill took the most iconic photographs of me throughout the years, completely capturing my moods. He was brilliant, funny and I absolutely loved his company. A real character who has now passed on. RIP you wonderful man. Love, Elton xx”
One of his last major public appearances was when he collected his CBE insignia for services to photography from the Duke of Cambridge at Buckingham Palace in October.
After receiving his honour Mr O’Neill, who had been suffering from prostate cancer, said the award “surpasses anything I’ve had happen to me in my life”.
Mr O’Neill is one of the world’s most collected photographers with work hanging in national art galleries and private collections worldwide.
His images have graced album covers, movie posters and magazine covers and by 1965 he was being asked to work with the biggest magazines and newspapers in the world.
Film stars such as Sir Michael Caine and Raquel Welch remained lifelong friends. Sir
Michael previously described Mr O’Neill as “a historian whose camera captured the resurgence and energy of this revolution”.
He added: “I can think of no other photographer who has contributed so much to our heritage.”
The Queen and former South African president Nelson Mandela have posed for portraits with Mr O’Neill and striking images of Sir Winston Churchill are also among his archive.