Ace photographer Peter Obe dies at 81

Photography giant Peter Obe died yesterday in Lagos . He was 81



A media Consultant, Taiwo Obe, wrote yesterday on the late Obe, his uncle, who was born on December 28, 1932.





“Just as the Daily Times, where he was for several decades chief photographer, was the generic name for newspapers, he was also for a long time the generic name for photography in Nigeria. If you wasted time in taking a photograph, you were automatically written off as “not Peter Obe.” On the other hand, if you exhibited some measure of mastery, you earned the name, “Peter Obe.”



He was a legend. Indeed, in the Daily Times, he was not mentioned by name; rather, he was “Ace”, indicating his high quality, excellence. His photographs were always stamped “Exclusives.” And, truly, they were: in a different class.



“This afternoon (yesterday), Peter Oyeyemi Obe, better known as Peter Obe, died at his residence situated on 31 Alhaji Masha/Moronu Street, Surulere, Lagos. His first son, Femi, made the announcement. A visual impairment which he had a couple of years ago, cut short his freelance photography work for the Agence France Presse (AFP). His coverage of the Nigerian civil war for the Daily Times resulted in a one-of-its-kind book, “Civil War Pictures From Nigeria: A Decade of Crisis in Pictures.”



Mr Lade Bonuola (aka Ladbone), an executive consultant at The Guardian, in a condolence message, wrote: “As chief cameraman of the Daily Times and I as the chief sub-editor, we worked very closely together. He never failed in supplying me terrific action photographs for the front page. Once I shouted ‘Exclusives’, I trusted he was on the way to the newsroom to supply page 1 photograph.”



For veteran sports journalist Fabio Olanikpekun, the late icon of photo Journalism was a true professional who discharged his duties with a sense of professionalism.



“Oh my God! Peter Obey has passed on? He asked almost close to tears.



Continuing, he said: “That is a monumental departure in the history of Nigeria Photo Journalism. I was a kid when Peter Obey occupied the space in Nigeria Photo Journalism. As a Daily Express photographer he was the essential photo Journalist of his era.



“If he did not cover any event then that event was not going to be an historic event. And those of us who grew up in Lagos in the 40′s remembered that any event he covered was historic with his ever present cap. He was easily distinguishable and there’s nobody in Lagos that did not recognise him as the essential press photographer of his days.



“As a naturalist, he was famours and popular by his love for bush meat, grass cutter. As I speak to you, I feel saddened that a great professional in the act of press photography departed. But we should thank God that he made a mark for others to emulate.”



source: nigerianeye