Ruth Orkin

Ruth Orkin is a legend of street photography – her atmospheric pictures taken in cities such as Florence, New York and London still shape the image of these metropolises today. But Orkin’s specialty not only encompassed the urban but also the personal. This is evident in her unique eye that enabled her street scenes to consistently offer penetrating insights into the time and personality of her subjects. And it likewise shows in her fantastic portraits of celebrities such as Albert Einstein, Woody Allen, and Lauren Bacall. These inimitable images seemingly combine snapshot and pose to present the star in his or her role and at the same time as an autonomous individual. Published on the occasion of the photographer’s 100th birthday, this illustrated book celebrates Orkin’s life and work with an equally extensive and fascinating overview of this exceptional artist’s oeuvre.

Review

Published on the centenary of her birth, this retrospective book of Orkin's work is edited by her daughter Mary Engel.--Tim Adams "Guardian"

About the Author

RUTH ORKIN (1921–1985) studied at Los Angeles City College. Working as a freelance photographer, her pictures were published in magazines such as Life, Look, and Ladies’ Home Journal. She was awarded an Oscar for the film Little Fugitive, which she made with her husband in 1953. World Through My Window (1978) is her best-known book of photographs.