Eve Arnold

Born: Philadelphia, USA
Awards: Sony Lifetime Achievement Award (2010)
“I found myself in the privileged position of photographing somebody who at first I thought had a gift for the camera, but who turned out to have a genius for it.”

A pioneer for female photojournalists, Eve Arnold took up photography in New York City in 1946 and went on to become one of the world's most revered photographers for her snapshots of Hollywood's rich and famous.

Inspiration

Eve became a star photographer for Life magazine in its heyday, capturing public figures such as Senator Joseph McCarthy and General Eisenhower during unguarded moments. 

In 1954, she came to the attention of Robert Capa, the head of Magnum Photos, the prestigious international cooperative of photographers. Capa invited her to join the group, and she became its first American female member. She was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Magazine Photographers in 1980. Then in 1995, she was made a fellow of the Royal Photographic Society and was elected 'Master Photographer' - the world's most prestigious photographic honour - by New York's International Centre of Photography.

Eve had a special affinity with movie star Marilyn Monroe, who she met when they were both still relatively unknown."She was going places, but she hadn't arrived," Eve recalled. "It became a bond between us... Marilyn was very important in my career. I think I was helpful in hers."

She also captured the lives of ordinary people, exploring themes including birth, family, tragedy and racial prejudice. 

Eve passed away on January 4th 2012, aged 99. She will forever be remembered, both for her truly brilliant photographs and as an inspiration to female photojournalists the world over. 

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