NUJ pays tribute to photographer and long-time activist Larry Herman

  • 05 Jan 2022

A stalwart of the London Freelance Branch, he was known as a tenacious agitator.

Larry Herman, who  died unexpectedly last week, held committee positions on various occasions in the union’s London Freelance Branch.

He was best-known, however, as a vociferous floor-of-the-meeting agitator. He was enthused by many issues: the fate of important photographic archives, whether photographers should have their own NUJ branch (he was opposed), or whether it was possible to combine journalism and political protest (he believed that it was). 

Whatever was his animus, he would stand his ground, with or without the chair’s approval, and insist on making his point. It did not win him universal popularity, but his tenacity and his zeal won respect even among those with divergent views. 

Born in New York, Herman came to London as a young man during the Vietnam War. Working from London he made a career as a documentary photographer, creating notable collections in Africa, Cuba, the Norwegian Arctic, and Glasgow. His work can now be found in many major collections including those of the Museum of London, National Galleries of Scotland, Tate Britain, and the Victoria & Albert Museum. 

Picture taken by Pierre Alozie who said: "Larry's death is a  blow to all. He had a special place among the photographers in the NUJ. He  encouraged me to step up and run for various posts which eventually led me to the Photographers' Council."

Larry on YouTube

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