Willie Phua
Willie Phua | |
|---|---|
Phua in the Philippines during the 1986 presidential elections | |
| Born | Phua Tin Tua 20 February 1928 Bai Siew Swee (White Tree village), Hainan Island, China |
| Died | 17 December 2024 (aged 96) Singapore |
| Other names | "Uncle Willie" and "Pork Chop Phua" |
| Occupation | Photojournalist |
| Agent | Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) |
| Spouse | Cindy Phua |
| Children | 1, daughter Tinika (deceased) |
| Relatives | 'brother' cousin and cameraman Phua Tin Loon and Loon's cameramen sons Sebastian Phua (deceased); Joe Phua; Jason Phua. |
Phua Tin Tua (20 February 1928 – 17 December 2024), known as Willie Phua, was a Chinese-born Singaporean photojournalist who was known for his news and feature work covering poignant moments in Asian history over more than three decades. He was the subject of an Australian book published in 2010 called Capturing Asia, by former foreign correspondent Bob Wurth. During his years working on risky assignments, Phua captured many images of wars and uprisings, economic 'miracles' and social upheavals, and the rise and fall of dictators.
Phua's camerawork was seen in Australia through the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, but his most important assignments were also shown around the world, sometimes on the BBC. He was one of the few television cameramen to capture the "Tank Man" briefly holding back Chinese tanks near Tiananmen Square in Beijing in 1989.