Legendary Vietnam War photographer, writer, and counter-culture documenter Tim Page was one such star. An Australian friend and fellow photojournalist, Ben Bohane, described Page as one of the great war photographers as well as a “real humanist.” “He always said it was more important to be a decent human being than a great photographer,” Bohane said.
One of Page’s famous lines was, “The only good war photograph is an anti-war photograph.”
Page covered the conflicts in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia during the 1960s and '70s. Later he covered the conflicts in Afghanistan, Solomon Islands, Israel, Bosnia, and East Timor. His images were iconic and featured in top news agencies.
Page also worked as a freelance photographer for music magzines including Rolling Stone and Crawdaddy from the late 1960s.
Page wrote a dozen books about his war experiences and music.
His was not an ordinary life.
I have often wondered what makes people like Page famous? They don’t crave fame….they just live full lives, not trapped…nor allowing themselves to get trapped…in the narrow worlds made by man. Their world has no boundaries and their mind soars unafraid and untrapped by the confines we usually draw for our minds.
The most beautiful aspect of Page’s life was that he believed in the inherent decency and dignity of man, and he lived this belief…
Some of Tim Page’s quotes:
Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle.
They say: Belief is important. I say: No, actions are important. Judge by deed, not by creed.
The more a man knows, the more willing he is to learn — the less a man knows, the more positive he is that he knows everything.
I leave you with this question. How many of us will truthfully be able to say what Tim Page says:
Go where you will; commit what crime you may; fall to what depth of degradation you may; you can never commit any crime that will shut my door, my arms, or my heart to you. As long as I live you shall have one sincere friend.