Headley “Dellmar” Samuels, the photojournalist credited with capturing the glory days of West Indies Cricket, has died.

In a statement on Saturday, loved ones of the photographer said Dellmar loved sports but was never a sportsman.

“He never bowled a cricket ball or fielded in the slips. There is no record of him hitting a four, or a six over the boundary, or running between the wickets. What, however, is undisputed is the fact that when it comes to photographing that noble game of cricket, his name is listed among the greats in the Caribbean,” the family said.

Samuels spent 10 years overseas studying photography and honing his craft, before returning to Jamaica in the mid-70s and commencing a freelance relationship with The Gleaner newspaper.

“As a young man he bought himself a camera and, not known to be shy, could talk his way into places and situations. This ability, along with a natural aptitude for photography, made him a serious contender in that world,” the family said.

Highlighting Samuels’ bold, brash, direct, and sometimes even abrasive style, the statement said this was balanced with his great sense of humour.

“Lover of sports that he was, he dabbled in track and field, which took him to the Montreal Olympics in Canada, followed by 13 years of covering Premier League football but in the end, it was cricket that became his obsession,” Samuels’ loved ones shared.

With his trademark felt hat, Samuels’ association with West Indies cricket lasted over 35 years.

He covered 175 Test matches and a host of One-Day Internationals, as well as seven Cricket World Cups, the last being the one held here in the Caribbean in 2007.

Despite his emphasis on cricket photography, he had an eye for capturing aspects of nature such as a beautiful sunset, dew drops on a rose, birds pecking at each other on the cricket ground in the middle of a cricket match, as well as other important elements of the human experience.

Dellmar was conferred with the Order of Distinction – Officer Class in the year 2000 for his contribution to Caribbean cricket

He also received many awards and citations and was a life member of the Press Association of Jamaica.

He eventually stepped back from covering cricket due to failing sight and ill health, which deteriorated over time. His fighting spirit, however, remained, and served him well as “he fought a good fight, finished his course, and kept his faith”.

Dellmar is survived by his wife Carol, sons Carey and Kornell, daughter Karyn, grandsons, Nicholas, Jason, Elijah, Emil-Anthony and Maxwell, other relatives and friends.