Award-winning former Cape Times photographer Garth Stead, 37, found dead in his Woodstock home yesterday, "not only took pictures, but painted with his camera".
Stead's body was found by friends, concerned when they could not reach him by telephone.
Police said they had opened an inquest docket and did not suspect foul play.
Stead, who was the Cape Town picture editor of Foto24, one of Media24's photographic departments, was previously picture editor of Die Burger and worked as a photographer on the Cape Times from 1996 to 1999.
"We are all shocked. He was someone who not only took pictures, but painted with his camera. I remember him fondly as a person who cared deeply for people, especially his children. I hope his family finds peace," said Die Burger news editor Michele O'Connor.
Andrew Ingram, deputy illustrations editor of Independent Newspapers Cape, publishers of the Cape Times said: "I am completely devastated. He was without a doubt one of the country's great photojournalists. He moved with great empathy through many different communities.
"Through his photography he made a huge difference to many people's lives, including taking people from very poor communities and training them to be talented photographers."
One of South Africa's top photojournalists, Stead was a winner of the acclaimed Fuji Press Award.
Friend and photographer Mark Wessels said yesterday: "Garth was a brilliant photographer, who worked at developing photography in South Africa, particular with underprivileged people. He gave people opportunities when no one else would. He looked inside people and could see the gems there," Wessels said.
With Karin Retief and Robin Sprong, Stead founded what became Icon Images school of photography, where they and others helped train underprivileged people in photography.
"It started over a beer one night when Garth said: 'It's time to give back'," Retief said.
They began teaching eight- and nine-years-olds at a Mfuleni orphanage.
One of those children, Mxolisi "Whitey" Madela, is now an adult working at the Cape Argus as a photographer.
"He taught me a lot of things. He was more than a friend, more like a father," Madela said yesterday.
Stead also ran a programme assisting previously disadvantaged aspirant photographers to cover big events such as the Homeless World Cup.
Nic Botma described Stead as a "one of the top classic photojournalists" who was able to convey a story in a single image. "He had so much more to give. I would have loved to be able to see his pictures when he was 70."
Stead is survived by two sons, aged 10 and five.