Harry Gruyaert was born in Antwerp (Belgium). Firstly, in 1941, studied at the School of Film and Photography in Brussels from 1959 to 1962. Then he became a photographer in Paris, while working as a freelance director of photography for Flemish television between 1963 and 1967.
He joined Magnum Photos in 1982, and has been a member even since. Originally he studied photography. He is the author of many monographs including Roots (2018), Edges (2018) and TV Shots (2007). He has become renown for his unique use of colour and dramatic compositions that he manages to discover all over the globe.