Ruth Orkin
Encyclopedia
Ruth Orkin was an American
photographer, filmmaker and a late member of the Photo League. She was born in Boston
, Massachusetts
. Orkin married photographer and filmmaker Morris Engel
.
Orkin is perhaps best known for her photograph, American Girl in Italy, taken in 1951. She died of cancer in New York City
at age 63. The subject of the now-iconic photograph was the 23-year-old Ninalee Craig (known at that time as Jinx Allen). The photograph was conceived inadvertently when Orkin noticed the men ogling Allen as she walked down the street. Orkin asked Allen to walk down the street again, to be sure she had the shot.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
photographer, filmmaker and a late member of the Photo League. She was born in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. Orkin married photographer and filmmaker Morris Engel
Morris Engel
Morris Engel was an influential American photographer, cinematographer and filmmaker best known for directing the 1953 film The Little Fugitive in collaboration with his wife, photographer Ruth Orkin, and their friend, writer Raymond Abrashkin.Engel completed two more features during the 1950s,...
.
Orkin is perhaps best known for her photograph, American Girl in Italy, taken in 1951. She died of cancer in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
at age 63. The subject of the now-iconic photograph was the 23-year-old Ninalee Craig (known at that time as Jinx Allen). The photograph was conceived inadvertently when Orkin noticed the men ogling Allen as she walked down the street. Orkin asked Allen to walk down the street again, to be sure she had the shot.
Books
- A World Through My Window, Harper and Row, 1978
- A Photo Journal, The Viking Press, 1981
- More Pictures from My Window, Rizzoli, 1983
Films
- The Little Fugitive, 1953
- Editor, Co-director and Co-writer
- Academy Award Nomination, Best Original Screenplay
- Silver Lion, Venice Film Festival
- Lovers and LollipopsLovers and LollipopsLovers and Lollipops is a 1956 film directed and written by Morris Engel and his wife Ruth Orkin. The film was photographed on location in and around New York City, and tells the story of the romance of a widowed fashion model and an engineer, and how their relationship is affected by her...
, 1955- Editor, Co-producer, Co-director and Co-writer