Yesterday I lost my friend, my mentor, the legendary war photographer Tim Page. As a young man, Tim rode his motorbike into the Vietnam war with his camera in tow and in some ways he never left. He dedicated his life to showing the atrocities of war, the human face. He cared deeply about his subjects, never abandoning them, always trying to find ways to further help. Tim changed the course of my life and shaped the photographer and person I am today. Fresh out of university myself and fellow graduate @adamfergusonstudio accompanied Tim on a mentorship to Cambodia. In that time we covered amputees who were victims of landmines, an all-female expert landmine clearing team, the residents of Stung Mean Chey dump, he introduced us to heads of NGO’s and took us to the Foreign Correspondents Club where we met other war legends and some gonzo journalists too. We appeared on the 7:30 Report (old mate Kerry O’Brien introduced us), had exhibitions internationally and I was asked to speak with Tim at a United Nations dinner. As a 20 year old from the ‘burbs of Brisbane my eyes were truly wide open. Tim forever had a joint hanging from the side of his mouth and Dennis Hopper’s character in Apocalypse Now is based on him. He was truly legendary. About a month ago I had a dream about Tim, he was around 30 years old, walked so straight upright that he looked 10 feet tall, he was glowing in golden light and of course had a camera hanging off his shoulder. I wrote to his dedicated lifelong partner Marianne Harris telling her of this dream and checking in on them both. She told me recently that Tim had been diagnosed with an terminal illness and didn’t have long to live. To Tim, I thank you for believing in me, for always treating me as your equal, for pushing me to take better pictures. As I sit here in a hotel in Paris about to do one of the most exciting shoots of my career I know I can trace this trajectory back to him. I heard Tim went out smoking a joint. A legendary exit for a legendary man. Rest in Peace dear Tim. I hope you are surrounded in golden light. Photo 1: Australian War Memorial Photo 2: Sean Flynn Photo 3: Morgan Roberts