After a short illness, Robin Brown passed away on the 20th March 2024, aged 62.
RB, as he was generally known, was a highly skilled and well respected multi award winning news cinematographer, who worked for SAS Channel 7 for many years. Much of the international news seen on the network over the last decades was brought to us through Robin’s eyes and among the many things he filmed were the Afghanistan, Iraq and East Timor wars, Nelson Mandela’s death and Schapelle Corby, as well as working at eight Olympic Games. He was also an editor and field producer and loved passing on his knowledge and skills to new operators in the industry.
7NEWS chief reporter Chris Reason travelled with and covered many stories with Brown:
“RB was a giant of his time – a one-man news machine. Name a big story you can remember in the last 30 years, chances are Rob shot the pictures. One of his last jobs (at 7News) was the crash of MH17 in Ukraine. He was walking amongst the wreckage for days. He was detained by Hezbollah militants one time; I reckon they gave him back when they realised who they were dealing with. Fearless, gruff, tough and tattooed…..He will be missed. Vale RB.” Chris Reason
Rob received 2 Gold Tripods and 9 National Distinctions in Cinematography through his incredible career. ACS members witnessed him win almost seventy SA/WA Branch awards across three decades beginning with his first award in 1989, a Silver Award for a ‘Wayville Motocross’ story in the News Magazine category. In 2002 Rob also received a Walkley Award.
RB was a committee member of the ACS SA Branch for a number of years, becoming Branch President in the late 90’s. He was a long-standing Australian Cinematographers Society member and he’ll be sadly missed by all that knew him.
He leaves behind his wife Vicky and two daughters Alex and Ellie, who meant everything to him, our thoughts are with them at this time.
