![]() ![]() “Although photo-based images appeared in newspapers and journals in the mid-nineteenth century and reportage was already a recognized practice, the word “photojournalist” does not seem to have been used until 1938 – in reference to German photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt, whose keen images of the rise of Nazism were as powerful as words. He made a name for himself within the Berlin journalistic scene, especially with his prescient shots of the rise of fascism. During this time, Alfred started working as a freelance photographer for what eventually became the Associated Press. Following the war, he searched for any job he could find, working as a belt and button salesman in Weimar, Germany. At the First World War outbreak, the young Alfred was recruited into the German Army, where he was wounded in 1918. ![]() ![]() Eisenstaedt was given his first camera at 11, an Eastman Kodak Folding Camera, beginning a lifelong journey into a world behind the lens. Beginning a Lifelong Journey into a World Behind the LensĪlfred Eisenstaedt was born to a Jewish family in 1898 in what is today considered Poland, and early in his life, his family moved to Berlin. His photographs became iconographic in their social, political, and historical content. At LIFE, Eisenstaedt developed a legendary portfolio, taking over 2,500 pictures and over 90 cover photos creating some of the world’s most memorable images still in circulation today. Foreseeing the political chaos in Europe, he moved to New York, where he began to work for LIFE magazine. Known for his skill and velocity with the small 35mm camera, unlike photographers of his time who used bulky cameras and flash equipment, Eisenstaedt pioneered the style of street photography and the use of natural lighting. These included Hitler and Mussolini’s meeting at the League of Nations, a photographic report on Thomas Mann’s Noble Prize, and many portraits of famous personalities, including Marlene Dietrich, Katherine Hepburn, Sophia Loren, Marilyn Monroe, and George Bernard Shaw. Yet, Alfred Eisenstaedt stood out years prior as a “photographer extraordinaire” by capturing striking, unforgettable pictures. By the end of the 1940s, the most distinguished photojournalists belonged to the influential agency Magnum Photos which covered many historical events. In the early 20th century, photojournalism was a nascent endeavor, as images became as important as the words evidenced by Henry Luce’s LIFE magazine. As one of LIFE magazine’s most renowned photojournalists, Eisenstaedt’s journey to becoming one of the most versatile and well-regarded photographers was an improbable one. He died at Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard.Alfred Eisenstaedt is often credited as the first “photojournalist” in the medium’s history. He was so closely linked to it that Leica presented him with a unique model in crhome bearing serial number M3-1000001 in recognition of his contributions both to his profession and to the popularity of the 35mm format. In 1936 he became one of the original four staff photographers for the new Life magazine over the span of his career, he contributed 90 cover photos and approximately 2,500 photo essays to that publication.Įisenstaedt was a devotee of the Leica 35mm camera, introduced commercially in 1925. His early work was heavily influenced by the pioneering documentary photographer Erich Salomon and during his years in Germany he was present for many historically important events.Įisenstaedt emigrated to the United States in 1935 in consequence of rising anti-semitism in Germany. ![]() An ardent amateur photographer, he became a professional in 1929 and was hired by the German office of the Associated Press. The pioneering photojournalist Alfred Eisenstaedt was born in Dirschau, West Prussia. ![]()
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