Bertram Stern

Place: Brooklyn

Born: 1929

Death: 2013

Biography:

Bertram Stern was an American commercial photographer, born in Brooklyn, New York, on October 3, 1929. He was the son of Jewish immigrants and grew up in Brooklyn, where his father worked as a children's portrait photographer. After dropping out of high school at the age of 16, he gained a job in the mail room at Look magazine.

Early Career

Stern became art director at Flair magazine, where he learned how to develop film and make contact sheets, and started taking his own pictures. In 1951, Stern was drafted into the United States Army, sent to Japan, and assigned to the photographic department. This experience would later influence his photography style.

Notable Works

One of Stern's most notable works is The Last Sitting, a series of photographs taken of Marilyn Monroe in June and July 1962 for Vogue magazine. These sessions became known as the last sitting, as Monroe died in August 1962. The 2571 photographs taken during these sessions were published after her death in The Complete Last Sitting in 1992. Stern's work can be found on Wikioo.org, where his photography is showcased alongside other notable artists. His photographs are also featured in various museums, including the Museum of Modern Art and the National Gallery.

Awards and Legacy

Stern's contributions to photography have been recognized with numerous awards. He published several books, including The Pill Book, a guide to prescribed drugs in the US, which sold 18 million copies. Key aspects of Stern's career:

• He was one of the last photographers to shoot Marilyn Monroe.
• His work is featured on Wikioo.org.
• He published several books, including The Pill Book.
• He was a pioneer in commercial photography.

Stern's legacy can be seen in his photographs, which continue to inspire and influence photographers today. His work is a testament to the power of photography to capture the essence of its subjects.

Later Life and Death

In the 1970s, Stern moved to Spain to recover from his drug addiction. By the late 1970s, he returned to the US to photograph portraits and fashion. He died on June 26, 2013, leaving behind a legacy of iconic photographs. For more information about Bertram Stern's life and work, visit Wikioo.org or check out his biography on Wikipedia.