Christopher Haigh

He was noted for his wedding, portrait and travel photography and was thought to have taken more wedding photographs than anyone else in Sheffield during his career there of more than 25 years.

He was born in Thurgoland, near Penistone, the son of Ben Haigh, a steelworker and also churchwarden for more than 40 years at All Saints Church, where his mother Winifred was organist for a similar period.

Mr Haigh was educated at Thurgoland Church of England School and Silkstone Secondary Modern, but his interest in academic subjects was always overshadowed by his enthusiasm for photography.

That first exhibited itself when at the age of 10 he bought his first camera with the proceeds of the sale of his extensive Dinky toy collection and model train layouts.

His first experience in travel photography began in the early 1960s when he holidayed abroad with his parents, and some of his earliest photographs were of the deserted beaches that were later to become Benidorm.

Around the same time, he also developed his interest in racing and motorcycles which led to his eventual fixation with racing old cars and, once his photographic career had taken off, to his love of Alfa Romeos and motor racing.

For a brief period in the early 1970s, he was a technician in Sheffield University's architecture department, and was a founder member of a breakaway photography group named Photoid – a group of men who put Barnsley at the forefront of the visual arts with a mission statement "to change the world by taking and exhibiting arty photographs". They successfully exhibited around the UK and Germany.

Mr Haigh eventually opened a photography studio in Eldon Street North, in Barnsley, and began photographing weddings and families in the 1970s.

He was known in the town for his eccentric behaviour and appearance and for his Bond three-wheeler car which had his photographs glued to the bodywork and the word "Ooops" around the numerous dents in the

vehicle.

As greater business opportunities opened up in the early 1980s, he moved to Sheffield and set up a studio in Dover Road, just off Eccleshall Road. He won many photographic awards for his portraits and weddings and was a member of the exclusive Yorkshire Portrait Group, as

well as being qualified with the Master Photographers Association and the British Institute of Professional Photography.

He had a passion for photography and a very keen eye for detail. If he wasn't doing it, he would be talking about it or reading about it, and he was always willing to help anyone with their business, often at his own expense.

He will be remembered by many people for his skill as a wedding and portrait photographer, but what is less well known is that he was an accomplished travel photographer who spent up to four months of the year travelling the world for international picture libraries. These images have appeared in books and magazines on four continents.

When not taking photographs he found time for his other interests including snooker, hill walking, music – especially Bruce Springsteen – travel and Alfa Romeo cars.

He is survived by his wife, Pim, whom he married six years ago, his sister and mother. His website will remain online as a testimony to his work at www.crishaigh.com