ANDRE CAMARA
Born 1969, Andre Camara started work as a press photographer at the age of 15 for the Brazilian "Jornal do Brasil". He juggled school and work until he went to read history in the PUC University of Rio. He covered the 1986 World Cup for that newspaper among other big assignments. At the age of 17 he was the only photographer to face a drug dealers' war in a Rio slum and captured such an incredible set of images of the armed gangsters that they prompted a national outcry forcing the police to intervene, invade the slum and kill them all. Twenty years later it inspired the famous film "City of God".
Now based in London, Andre worked for Associated Press, being the only photographer in Baghdad for months during the first Gulf War and having his pictures published all over the world. Then at Reuters, where he won his first awards for coverage of the IRA bombing in the City of London, used in all main newspapers around the world. For Reuters Andre worked through the setting-up of their UK pictures service and for years was the news agency photographer with the most publications in England and worldwide.
In 1994 Andre covered the USA World Cup for Reuters and then moved to The Times, where he won another 5 Awards in Britain. For The Times Andre has covered 8 Cannes Film Festivals, Venice film festivals and Biennales, Fashion Weeks , Royal trips, and has been in dozens of countries on different assignments. In the London 7th July terrorist attack Andre produced the iconic picture of a woman leaving a station with her burnt face in a mask which was displayed as the whole front page of The Times and other newspapers worldwide.
Conflicts, suffering, arts, beauty, sports, features, portraits - Andre has registered and shown his view to the world. His vision is memorable." Alan Hamilton, The Times.
Awards
  • 1994 British Press Awards:
    Photographer of the Year, special prize
  • 1994 British Picture editors awards:
    News photographer of the Year, special prize
  • 1997 British Picture Editors awards:
    Press Photographer of the Year, special prize
  • 1997 British Picture Editors awards:
    News photographer of the Year, special prize
  • 2000 British Press Awards:
    Photographer of the Year, special prize
  • 2006 British Press Photographers:
    Business Picture of the Year, 1st prize
  • 2007 British Press Photographers:
    Portrait Picture of the Year, award winner
  • 2012 Photographer of the Year Brazilian International Awards
  • 2016 International Colour Awards nomination