Ruth Orkin

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Ruth Orkin (born September 3, 1921 in Boston , † January 16, 1985 in New York City ) was an American photographer and filmmaker .

Training and activities

The daughter of silent film actress Mary Ruby grew up in Hollywood in the 1920s and 1930s. In 1939 she studied photo - journalism at Los Angeles City College . In the same year she went on a bike tour across the USA to New York to visit the world exhibition there.

After serving briefly in the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps , Ruth Ruby returned to New York in 1943. There she made a living taking photos of babies and working as a photographer in a nightclub before working as a freelance photojournalist for magazines such as Life , Look and Ladies' Home Journal . Ruth photographed celebrities such as Leonard Bernstein , Isaac Stern , Aaron Copland , Jascha Heifetz and Serge Koussevitzky at the musical summer courses in Tanglewood . In 1947 she joined the Photo League and took part in their exhibition This Is the Photo League (1948–1949).

specialization

Orkin traveled to Israel for concerts by the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra on behalf of Life Magazin . From there she went to Italy , where her famous American Girl in Italy photo was taken as part of the Don't Be Afraid to Travel Alone series . In 1952 she returned to New York and turned together with Raymond Abrashkin and Morris Engel film Little Fugitive ( Little Fugitive ). In the same year she married the director Engel, with whom she made other films. In 1954 she received an Oscar for the film in the category Best Original Story .

From 1976 to 1978 Ruth Orkin taught photography at the School of Visual Arts in New York, and in 1979 at the International Center of Photography . From her apartment above New York's Central Park, she captured parades, demonstrations, marathons and concerts in pictures. She published these photos in the illustrated books A World Through My Window and More Pictures From My Window .

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personal data
SURNAME Orkin, Ruth
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American photographer and filmmaker
DATE OF BIRTH September 3, 1921
PLACE OF BIRTH Boston
DATE OF DEATH January 16, 1985
Place of death New York City