Elliott Erwitt
| Elliott (Elio Romano) Erwitt | |
|---|---|
Vienna 2012
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|
| Born |
July 26, 1928 Paris, France |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Photographer |
| Spouse(s) | Lucienne Van Kan (1953–1960), Diana Dann (1968–1975), Susan Ringo (1977–1984), (1998–the present) |
| Children | 3 |
Elliott Erwitt, really Elio Romano Erwitt, (born 26 July 1928) is an American advertising and documentary photographer known for his black and white candid shots of ironic and absurd situations within everyday settings— a master of Henri Cartier-Bresson's "decisive moment".
Erwitt was born in Paris, France, to Jewish-Russian immigrant parents, who soon moved to Italy. In 1939, when he was ten, his family immigrated to the United States. He studied photography and filmmaking at Los Angeles City College and the New School for Social Research, finishing his education in 1950. In 1951 he was drafted into the Army, and decommissioned in 1953.
Erwitt served as a photographer's assistant in the 1950s in the United States Army while stationed in France and Germany. He was influenced by meeting the famous photographers Edward Steichen, Robert Capa and Roy Stryker. Stryker, the former Director of the Farm Security Administration's photography department, hired Erwitt to work on a photography project for the Standard Oil Company. He then began a freelance photographer career and produced work for Collier's, Look, Life and Holiday. Erwitt was invited to become a member of Magnum Photos by the founder Robert Capa.
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Wikipedia