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W. Eugene Smith was an American photojournalist who pioneered the editorial photo essay. He covered World War II, the Minamata mercury poisoning, and other social and environmental issues with empathy and social conscience.
- Early years
- Later years
- Death and legacy
- Legacy
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William Eugene Smith was born in 1918 in Wichita, Kansas. He took his first photographs at the age of 15 for two local newspapers. In 1936, Smith entered Notre Dame University in Wichita, where a special photographic scholarship was created for him. A year later he left the university and went to New York City, and after studying with Helene Sander...
Once recuperated, Eugene Smith worked for LIFE again between 1947 and 1955, before resigning to join Magnum as an associate. In 1957, he became a full member of Magnum. Smith was fanatically dedicated to his mission as a photographer. Because of this dedication, he was often regarded by editors as troublesome.
A year after he moved to Tucson, to teach at the University of Arizona, Smith died of a stroke. His archives are held at the Center for Creative Photography in Tucson, Arizona.
Today, Smiths legacy lives on through the W. Eugene Smith Fund to promote humanistic photography, founded in 1980, which awards photographers for exceptional accomplishments in the field.
Learn about W. Eugene Smith, a pioneer of humanistic photography and a war correspondent who documented the Pacific conflict. See his photos of the island-hopping American offensive against Japan and his legacy through the W. Eugene Smith Fund.
W. Eugene Smith (1918 - 1978) was a pioneer of photojournalism and a member of Magnum. Learn about his life, work, and research archive at the International Center of Photography.
Dec 29, 2018 · Learn about the life and work of W. Eugene Smith, a genius of twentieth-century photojournalism who perfected the art of the photo essay. See his remarkable stories on a country doctor, a Spanish village, and Albert Schweitzer.
Apr 15, 2019 · The Magnum photographer documented the effects of industrial mercury poisoning in Japan for three years, living with and photographing the affected families. See his powerful and intimate images of the victims' suffering, resistance and humanity.
Learn about W. Eugene Smith, a photographer who covered World War II and created powerful photo-essays on social issues. Explore his life, work, and legacy in this article from Encyclopaedia Britannica.
W. Eugene Smith was a renowned photojournalist who covered World War II and other topics with artistic and humanitarian vision. See his gallery of images, including his famous Walk to Paradise Garden, and learn about his life and legacy.
