Ruth Orkin facts for kids

Ruth Orkin (born September 3, 1921 – died January 16, 1985) was a talented American photographer and filmmaker. She was known for her amazing pictures and movies. Ruth spent time in both New York City and Hollywood. Her most famous photo is An American Girl in Italy from 1951. She also photographed many famous people like Lauren Bacall and Alfred Hitchcock.

Ruth Orkin's Life Story

Ruth Orkin's famous photo, An American Girl in Italy

Ruth Orkin was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on September 3, 1921. Her mother was a silent film actress, so Ruth grew up in Hollywood. When she was just 10 years old, in 1931, she got her first camera. It was a simple 39-cent Univex camera. She loved taking pictures of her friends and teachers at school.

At 17, Ruth went on an amazing adventure. She rode her bike all the way across America! She started in Los Angeles and ended in New York City. Her goal was to see the 1939 World's Fair. The trip took her three weeks, and she took many photos along the way.

In 1940, Ruth studied photojournalism briefly at Los Angeles City College. Photojournalism is about telling stories with pictures for newspapers or magazines. In 1941, she became the first messenger girl at MGM Studios. She wanted to learn how to make movies. However, she left because the rules there didn't allow women to join the film union.

During World War II, Ruth joined the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps in 1941. She hoped to learn filmmaking skills, as the group's ads promised. But she didn't get the training she wanted and left in 1943.

Starting a Photography Career

In 1943, Ruth moved to New York City. She wanted to become a freelance photojournalist. This meant she would work for herself, taking photos for different companies. She started by taking pictures in nightclubs. In 1945, she got her first big job from The New York Times to photograph Leonard Bernstein.

Soon, her career grew, and she traveled around the world for assignments. Her photos appeared in famous magazines like Life, Look, and Ladies' Home Journal. Ruth was one of the few women to succeed in this field, which was mostly men at the time.

Her Most Famous Photograph

Ruth Orkin's most well-known photo is An American Girl in Italy (1951). The young woman in the picture was 23-year-old Ninalee Craig. This photo was part of a series called "Don't Be Afraid to Travel Alone." The picture shows Ninalee confidently walking past a group of Italian men in Florence. Ninalee has said that the photo was not planned. It was one of many pictures taken that day to show how fun it was to travel by yourself.

Filmmaking and Later Work

In 1952, Ruth married Morris Engel, who was also a photographer and filmmaker. They worked together on two important independent movies: "Little Fugitive" (1953) and "Lovers and Lollipops" (1955). These films were very successful.

After making movies, Ruth went back to photography. She took many colorful pictures of Central Park from her apartment window. These photos were later put into two books: "A World Through My Window" (1978) and "More Pictures from My Window" (1983).

Ruth also taught photography. She taught at the School of Visual Arts in the late 1970s and at the International Center of Photography in 1980. Ruth Orkin passed away from cancer in her New York City apartment on January 16, 1985.

Exhibitions of Her Work

People visiting a Ruth Orkin photo show in 2012

Ruth Orkin's photographs have been shown in many art galleries and museums. Her work was featured in solo shows, meaning only her photos were displayed. She also took part in group shows with other photographers. Her photos have been seen in places like the Museum of Modern Art in New York and galleries in London and Tokyo.

Awards and Recognition

Ruth Orkin received several awards for her amazing work.

Photography Awards

• 3rd Prize Winner, LIFE Magazine's Young Photographer's Contest, 1951
• One of Top Ten Women Photographers in the U.S., Professional Photographers of America, 1959
• 1st Annual Manhattan Cultural Award, Photography, 1980

Other Awards

• Certificate of Merit, Municipal Art Society of New York, 1984