Bill Binzen

Bill Binzen (September 21, 1918 – November 1, 2010) was an American photographer who began his freelance career after a decade of work as art director for a New York advertising agency. Examples of his work could be found in the popular Life Library of Photography series and one his composite photos, known as "Winter Climber", became widely known after appearing first in the Time-Life book called Color and later in popular magazines and trade books. Binzen also wrote and photo-illustrated children's books.

In the early 1950s, after completing a year of study at the Art Students League, he joined the Ogilvy, Benson & Mather advertising agency. As its art director, he helped the agency impart an aura of prestige to products such as men's shirts, tonic water, and vacations in Puerto Rico. His writing and freelance careers commenced after his departure from Ogilvy in 1962. One of his earliest books, Miguel's Mountain, received frequent journal citations over a period of 18 years following its publication in 1968, and one of the last books he produced, called Alfred the Little Bear, spawned a popular series.

Binzen was born in Montclair, New Jersey to a close-knit family that included his parents and two brothers. His father was an executive with the J. C. Penney Company. After graduating from a private boarding school in Connecticut, he worked as a page for the National Broadcasting Company and sometimes served as a tour guide in Radio City Music Hall. After the United States entered World War II, he joined the Army Air Corps and, after 16 months in training, served as co-pilot of a B-17 bomber, flying missions from Italy into Central Europe during the last years of the war. He was living in Salisbury, Connecticut when he died in 2010.

Early life

Raised in Montclair, New Jersey, he attended Choate, a private boarding school in Connecticut. On graduating, he spent a year at the University of Virginia, leaving after a year to travel and study art at the University of Arizona.