Martha Holmes (photographer) facts for kids

Martha Holmes Waxman (born February 7, 1923, in Louisville, Kentucky – died September 19, 2006, in Manhattan, New York) was an American photographer. She was known for her work as a photojournalist, capturing real-life events for magazines.

About Martha Holmes

Martha Holmes was born on February 7, 1923. Her parents were George and Emma Auer Holmes. Her father worked in public relations. Her mother was a vocal coach.

Martha was married to Arthur Waxman for 46 years. Arthur was a theatrical executive. He was also an early manager of the Actors Studio. Arthur passed away in 1998. Martha and Arthur had two daughters. Their names are Anne Holmes Waxman and Terry Holmes Waxman Koshel. Martha also had two grandchildren.

Her Photography Career

Martha Holmes studied art at the University of Louisville. She also studied at the Speed Art Museum. Someone suggested she work at local newspapers. These were the Louisville Courier-Journal and The Louisville Times.

She was hired as an assistant. She helped a color photographer. Soon, she became a full-time black-and-white photographer. This happened because many male photographers went to serve in World War II.

Working for Life Magazine

In September 1944, Martha joined Life magazine. This was a very famous magazine. In 1947, she moved to Washington, D.C.. She became one of Life's three staff photographers there.

She covered important events. One event was the House Un-American Activities Committee hearings. This committee investigated people. They looked into claims of communist ideas. Martha's job was to photograph these events.

After two years, she moved back to New York. She lived there for the rest of her life. She continued to work for Life as a freelance photographer. She took photos for two of Life's magazine covers. By 1950, she was named one of the top 10 female photographers in the country.

Exhibitions and Publications

Martha Holmes's photos were published in many magazines. These included People, Redbook, Coronet, and Collier's.

Her work was also shown in art exhibitions. These exhibitions were all over the world. Some famous places included:

• the International Center of Photography
• the National Portrait Gallery in London
• the Louvre in Paris

Famous Photographs

Martha Holmes took many famous pictures. Her most well-known photos were of:

• Jackson Pollock, a famous painter
• Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, famous actors

Martha once shared a tip from Life magazine. She said, "Film is cheap. Use it. Shoot, shoot, shoot." This meant photographers should take many pictures to get the best shot.