Esther Bubley American photographer Date of Birth: 16.02.1921 Country: USA

1. Biography of Esther Bubley
2. Early Life
3. Early Career
4. Documentary Photography and Recognition
5. Later Career and Legacy

Biography of Esther Bubley

Esther Bubley was an American photographer known for her incredibly talented photographs of ordinary people in their everyday lives. She was also widely recognized for her "childhood" shots, where children appear natural and unaware of the camera, engaging in various activities and displaying different emotions.

Early Life

Esther Bubley was born in 1921 in Phillips, Wisconsin, to Russian-Jewish immigrants Louis and Ida Bubley. Her interest in photography began in 1936 when she saw a magazine called "Life" featuring photographs, sparking her dream of becoming a photographer. While serving as the editor of her high school newspaper, she started imitating the style of "Life" magazine. After graduating from Central High School, Bubley spent two years at Superior State Teachers College before attending the Minneapolis School of Art to study photography.

Early Career

In 1941, after completing her photography education, Bubley moved to Washington, D.C. in search of employment. However, she couldn't find a suitable job there. Disappointed, she decided to pursue her dreams in New York City and was eventually hired by "Vogue" magazine. However, she didn't enjoy working in the fashion industry as she aspired to be a documentary photographer. In 1942, Bubley returned to Washington, where she found a job at the National Archives and Records Administration. During her free time, she continued to pursue photography and was fortunate to be hired by Roy Stryker at the Office of War Information.

Documentary Photography and Recognition

Bubley's task at the Office of War Information was to capture life on the home front during the challenging war period. She worked tirelessly and in 1948, one of her photo series titled "Bus Story" received recognition and won an award for the best photo series of the year. During this time, Bubley was also married to Edwin Locke, the department head, but the marriage was short-lived, and they eventually divorced.

In 1947, Bubley became a staff photographer for the Federal child welfare agency, where she took thousands of photographs of children. Her work was featured on the cover of "The Child" magazine more than 30 times. In 1949, she began collaborating with the women's magazine "Ladies' Home Journal," and her first reportage for the publication won an award from the Encyclopædia Britannica. She worked with the magazine for many years, creating a series called "How America Lives" from 1949 to 1960.

Later Career and Legacy

Starting in 1951, Bubley worked as a freelance photographer for "Life" magazine, and her photo reports were featured in the publication 40 times. She was one of the first female photographers to make a living from her profession while remaining a "free artist." Her popularity grew, and she received interest from prestigious and influential publications and companies. In 1955, her photograph was included in Edward Steichen's renowned exhibition, "The Family of Man."

Esther Bubley continued to work almost until her death. She passed away from cancer on March 16, 1998, in New York City, at the age of 77. Her legacy as a talented documentary photographer lives on, and her photographs continue to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide.