BERLIN —— German fashion photographer Peter Lindbergh, credited with inventing the concept of the supermodel in the 1980s, has died aged 74, a message on his Instagram account said on Wednesday.

Born in 1944 in German-occupied Poland, he is seen as the creator of a style of naturalistic fashion photography which showed women without heavy make-up and is known for famous images of Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell and Christy Turlington.

German daily Bild quoted him as having told the newspaper in May: "Nothing is more beautiful than photographing the women you love. I was really in love with each of my supermodels."

Oscar-winning actor Charlize Theron described him as a genius and a master of his craft.

"Beyond that, what made him truly one of a kind was his consistent kindness, warmth, and incredible sense of humor," she tweeted.

Lindbergh recently shot pictures of women for the "Forces for Change" issue of British Vogue magazine that Meghan, wife of Britain's Prince Harry, guest edited. The women he photographed included actress Jane Fonda, climate activist Greta Thunberg and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden.