Very sad news concerning the passing of John Benton Harris. He was extremely supportive of my work researching the life of Bill Jay and in the making of our film Do Not Bend: The Photographic Life of Bill Jay www.donotbendfilm.com
My thoughts are with his friends and family.
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I first met John in 1969 when we were covering the Investiture of Prince Charles (now King Charles 111) in Caerarvon, Wales. He later came and did some talks at Trent Poly, Nottingham when i was there in the 1970s. He co-curated two Barbican, London exhibitions - one in 1989 'Through the Looking Glass' that was on contemporary British pbotography. But he is probably best known for his photo essays on the English and the St Patricks Day parade in his home city, New York, which he covered every year.
He worked as an industrial photographer in the early 1960s and then completed mandatory military service as a photographer with the United States Army, in Italy. Afterwards he travelled in Europe, then in 1965 settled in London, working as a staff photographer for London Life magazine. He freelanced later for various newspapers and magazines.
A very gifted street photographer, he was an engaging raconteur and an influencial teacher, who never thought the British cared for photography as much as he did.