He gave up the limelight to become a teacher, only to find fame in the classroom.
Chester Maharaj photographed some of the famous people of recent history, including Bob Marley, Tina Turner and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. But in May the South Africa-born photographer became an internet sensation himself when a surprise video his pupils made to honour him went viral. It has been watched more than 329,000 times.
"I couldn't believe it — it was all a secret," said Maharaj when the Sunday Times tracked him down to his home in Tustin, California. "Normally I know everything that happens in my classroom, but nobody said a word."
The video, which coincided with Teacher Appreciation Week in the US in May, was made to honour Maharaj after he was nominated by his pupils as their most influential teacher.
In it, he is seen arriving at Godinez Fundamental High School in a Los Angeles suburb — where he has taught photography since 2009 — thinking he was being interviewed for a student project. Outside, he was surprised to see one of his own famous images mounted on the wall.
But a bigger surprise was waiting inside where dozens of his pupils appeared in a hall filled with his images. The video ends with him in tears and receiving a massive group hug...