Ruth Orkin

Ruth Orkin was a photographer, photojournalist and a filmmaker. She was the daughter of a silent film actress and received her first camera when she was 10 years old. When she was 17, she biked from Los Angeles to NYC to see the 1939 World's Fair and photographed her journey along the way.

She eventually moved to NYC and worked for many major magazines, including LIFE Magazine. She photographed celebrities on assignment, including Marlon Brando and Lucille Ball.

She married Morris Engel, a fellow photographer and filmmaker, and they collaborated together and  made the independent film Little Fugitive in 1952 which was nominated for an Academy Award. Here's a clip from it.

 

When color film was being introduced, she also transitioned with the times and began photographing in color.

She unfortunately passed away in 1985, but she has a website dedicated to her life and work here.