Ruth Orkin

Ruth Orkin (September 3, 1921 – January 16, 1985) was an American photographer, photojournalist, and filmmaker, with ties to New York City and Hollywood. Known for her photograph An American Girl in Italy, she photographed many celebrities and personalities including Lauren Bacall, Doris Day, Ava Gardner, Tennessee Williams, Marlon Brando, and Alfred Hitchcock.

Early life, education and early career

Ruth Orkin was born on September 3, 1921, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Mary Ruby and Samuel Orkin. Ruth grew up in Hollywood, due to her mother's career as a silent film actress. In 1931, she received her first camera, a 39-cent Univex, and soon began experimenting by taking photographs of her friends and teachers at school. At the age of 17, she decided to bike across America, beginning in Los Angeles, and ending in New York City for the 1939 World's Fair. She completed the trip in three weeks' time, taking photographs along the way.

She briefly attended Los Angeles City College for photojournalism in 1940, prior to becoming the first messenger girl at MGM Studios in 1941, citing a desire to become a cinematographer. She left the position after discovering the union's discriminatory practices that did not allow female members. She joined the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps during World War II, in 1941 Ladies' Home Journal, and others. Orkin is credited with breaking into a heavily male field.

Orkin's most-celebrated image is An American Girl in Italy (1951). However, in recent articles written about the pair, Craig claims that the image was not staged, and was one of many taken throughout the day, aiming to show the fun of traveling alone. thumb

Filmmaking In 1952, Orkin married photographer, filmmaker and fellow Photo League member Morris Engel. Orkin and Engel collaborated on two major independent feature films, Little Fugitive (1953) and Lovers and Lollipops (1956).

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

Exhibits Ruth Orkin: Retrospective. Nikon House, New York City Ruth Orkin: Retrospective. Lumiere Brothers Center of Photography, Moscow. January, 2012 Ruth Orkin + Morris Engel, Fondazione Stelline, Milan, June 26–August 3, 2014 Retrospective, Fotografiska, New York, 2021 Ruth Orkin, Museo Civico di Bassano, Bassano del Grappa, Italy. 2022 Mostra Ruth Orkin, una nuova scoperta. Musei Reali, Turin. March 17 – July 16, 2023 Ruth Orkin: Women on the Move, National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, D.C. December 12, 2025 – March 29, 2026

Bibliography, filmography Books The World Through My Window, Harper and Row, 1978 A Photo Journal: Ruth Orkin, The Viking Press, 1981 More Pictures from My Window, Rizzoli, 1983

Films Little Fugitive, 1953 editor, co-director and co-writer Academy Award nomination, Best Original Screenplay Silver Lion, Venice Film Festival Lovers and Lollipops, 1956 editor, co-producer, co-director and co-writer The film served as inspiration for Carol (film), according to Director Todd Haynes

Personal life She and husband, Morris Engel, had two children: Andy and Mary Engel. After a long, private battle with cancer, Orkin died of the disease at her New York City apartment on January 16, 1985.