Dance photographer Elliott Franks dies at 62

The proficient, well-respected, and much-loved photographer Elliott Franks has died at his London residence at age 62.

Gramilano knew him as a dance photographer, and he was at all times useful and beneficiant together with his contributions to our web site.

Aside from his theatre pictures, he produced editorial images, and certainly, right now in The Times, certainly one of his photographs is featured.

He would wait patiently outdoors 10 Downing Street or the BBC for a photograph op, in addition to taking his digital camera to violent demonstrations.

He contributed photographs to Dancing Times journal for a few years. Its editor on the time, Jonathan Gray, stated:

I’m shocked to listen to of the loss of life of Elliott. Not solely was he a marvellous photographer, he was such a form and thoughtful particular person as nicely. His most well-known picture – the one he can be most remembered for – is the picture, taken only a few years in the past, of a drunken England soccer fan with a lit flare protruding of his backside (it made the headlines in every single place), however he was additionally a delicate and gifted dance photographer.

His photos graced the duvet of Dancing Times a number of occasions after I was editor of the journal, and I used to be at all times happy to meet up with him often on the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards.

I final noticed him in June on the 2026 ceremony, after we kissed and promised to fulfill up quickly. Little did I do know that will be the final time I’d see him.

Elliott Franks labored as knowledgeable photographer since 1999. His ardour was producing black-and-white, darkish and moody portraits for actors’ headshots. One of the actors he labored with was in a West End present, and the director requested him to do the manufacturing pictures. It was the primary time that his work was printed.

Franks attended theatre and dance photocalls through the day and photographed reside music at night time, with the pictures used to accompany evaluations in newspapers and magazines. More not too long ago, he targeted on dance pictures and took on commissions from dance firms.

Graham Watts, Chairman of the Dance Section of The Critics’ Circle and of the UK National Dance Awards, stated:

Elliott was a form and beneficiant man. Since his loss of life, so many individuals have messaged me to say that he gave free photographs of dancers.

He photographed the National Dance Awards for over 15 years and by no means as soon as requested us for a payment since he knew we ran the entire occasion on a shoestring. He photographed politicians and documented the Stop the Hate marketing campaign towards anti-Semitism with none fanfare or self-promotion.

He was a self-effacing man who most well-liked to remain behind the digital camera.

When print retailers started receiving free photographs to accompany their articles, he wanted to diversify and so started masking information and politics: political social gathering occasions, social gathering conferences, and election campaigns for all the main events within the UK, in addition to commissions from commerce unions, political events, members of parliament, and suppose tanks.

He was a member of the National Union of Journalists the British Press Photographers Association.

Elliott Franks in print – politics

Elliott Franks in print – theatre

Elliott Franks in print – dance

Elliott Franks in print – information

Social Media Tributes

On ‘X’

Danny Clifford, the reside music photographer: Elliot was a pal of mine for over 25 years. We had been typically photographing aspect by aspect. He was an excellent photographer and a beautiful particular person. This is a good loss and I’m in whole shock.

Journalist Alexander Seale: Really unhappy to listen to Elliott Franks handed away. He was an ideal photographer and an @FPALondon colleague. I noticed him final on the FPA [Foreign Press Association] summer season social gathering and at Wimbledon. Thinking of his household.

The Foreign Press Association in London: We are heartbroken. One of our much-loved members, Elliott Franks, 62, has handed away. One of the official photographers on the #FPAawards and a devoted presence at our #FPABriefings A form, particular soul can be deeply missed. Our ideas together with his household.

ArenaPAL – Performing Arts Picture Library: We are deeply saddened by the sudden loss of life of our contributing photographer @elliottfranks,who has died  aged 62. His intensive archive stands as a testomony to a exceptional inventive expertise and a lifelong love of efficiency with a specific ardour for ballet.

Photographer Amanda Rose: A real gentleman. The most real, mild, humorous and sort particular person. So way more than the exceptionally proficient and inventive photographer all of us admired. May his reminiscence ceaselessly be a blessing.

Actress Shelley Blond:  I can’t imagine what I’m seeing. Elliott was at each rally, counter protest, occasion and never solely was he an unimaginable photographer, however was a delicate, candy soul, at all times prepared with a smile and a sparkle in his eyes. I’m so terribly sorry for his household and for the lack of all of us of this pretty pretty man. May his reminiscence be an everlasting blessing.