A tribute to a fallen colleague
My friends here at the newspaper company where I’m consulting this month experienced a tragedy Sunday night.
Garth Stead, the news operation’s photo chief took his own life Sunday night. He was 37.
I spent three months in Cape Town last month — and I’ll be there again in a few weeks — but I don’t believe I ever met him. By all accounts, Garth was a wonderful photographer, a gifted teacher and wonderfully enthusiastic about his work and the work done by his staff.
Garth especially loved working with young people and mentoring young photojournalists, I’m told.
A good friend tells me he saw Garth just last week. The word my friend used to describe him was “gregarious.”
As you can imagine, a number of folks here in Johannesburg were in shock Monday. And there’s nothing a graphics consultant can do, really, to soften the blow. Other than to pay tribute to our fallen colleague and to commemorate his work and his life.
News24’s Chantelle Nicholas reported the company’s national picture editor, Dawid Roux…
…added that Garth had planned to fulfil his role in Foto24 to standards he deemed acceptable. He planned to then throw himself into the field of photography full-time.
“..But this time you dropped us. Yes, I am angry at him. But I am more incredibly heartbroken and will miss my friend and colleague,” Roux added.
“He touched everyone deeply and his death is a huge blow for Media24’s newspapers, his friends and colleagues. Thank you Garth for the role you played in our lives.”
A few samples of Garth’s work, as shown in his hometown paper, Die Burger, today:
Read the story here about Garth published Monday afternoon, in English. In addition, the paper posted suicide prevention tips. Find those here.