Herb Ritts

Herb Ritts (1952–2002) was an American fashion and portrait photographer and director, best known for striking black-and-white images of celebrities and models. Born in Los Angeles, he began photographing in the late 1970s and rose to prominence in the 1980s with a clean, sculptural style that emphasized light, form, and classical composition. Ritts shot major editorial and advertising campaigns and became a sought-after portraitist of figures from film, music, and fashion. He also directed music videos and commercials, bringing the same polished visual sensibility to moving images. His work has been exhibited internationally and remains influential in contemporary photography.