Renowned Australian photographer John Grainger has been found dead after going missing on Sydney’s northern beaches on Tuesday afternoon.
Grainger’s body was discovered in Elanora Heights on Wednesday morning and his death was not treated as suspicious.
Grainger’s career in photography spanned more than 30 years, beginning in the 1980s when he began covering news events.
Over the years his work has earned him numerous accolades, including a Walkley Award in 2018 for his photograph of Vikki Campion published in the Daily Telegraph.
This photo accompanied the scoop ‘The Joyce Package’, which revealed that former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce was expecting a baby with his then employee, Vikki Campion.
He is also a two-time Kennedy Prize winner, with his most recent award coming in 2022 for a candid photograph of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The image, taken the morning after Albanese was elected Prime Minister, shows him leaving his house wearing a Newtown Jets football shirt and his hair messy.
In 2021, his old rival and fellow photographer Nicholas Moir reflected on their years working together.
“He is without a doubt one of the toughest photographers I have ever had to compete with as his knowledge of the latest Sydney news, the people involved and how the story will evolve is exceptional.
‘His skill forced me to always be thinking about the next move, the next image. We have spent thousands of hours protecting each other from fires, floods, murders and brutal thugs.’
While much of his career was spent reporting breaking news, Grainger’s love of photography extended far beyond the headlines.
In his later years, he explored macro photography, focusing on the intricate patterns on the wings of butterflies and moths.
Renowned Australian photographer John Grainger has been found dead after going missing on Sydney’s northern beaches on Tuesday afternoon.
Over the years his work has earned him numerous accolades, including a Walkley Award in 2018 for his photograph of Vikki Campion published in the Daily Telegraph.
