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By Alex Sawyer Raymond

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Early History

Born on June 12, 1899 in Lemberg (also known as Lvov) Austria, to Rachel and Bernard Fellig. Weegee was the second of seven children.

In 1906 his father left Europe to start the families life in New York.

In 1910 the rest of the family arrives and reunites with their father on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Later on, Bernard Fellig completed his religious studies and became a rabbi.

Weegee’s Birth name was Usher Fellig, but upon arrival to the US, it is changed to Arthur.

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The Beginning

In 1913 decides to leave school to help with the support of his family, and takes up a job as a tintype photographer.

(Produced on metallic sheet (not, actually, tin) instead of glass. The plate was coated with collodion and sensitized just before use.)

Several months later he progressed to working with a chemical photographer.

After several years of grueling, tedious work, he quit to begin working as a street portrait photographer. Equipped with a pony camera, Weegee photographed Lower East Side children on weekends

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Developed into a Photographer

In 1917 upon turning 18, he decides to move out of his family home to become homeless for a short time. Picking up odd jobs an odd places for shelter he continues looking for a photography studio.

Finally one year later he finds a job at Ducket and Adler Photography Studio in Lower Manhattan.

After he works for a short time at The New York Times he joins Acme News Picture and works there from 1924 - 1935.

In 1934 Rents a one-room apartment at 5 Center Market Place, where he lives until 1947.

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On His Own

After learning everything he can about news photography he leaves Acme in 1935 to begin his freelance career

He starts photographing activities centered around Manhattan police headquarters.

He soon gets photographs published by Herald Tribune, World-Telegram, Daily News, Post, Journal-American, Sun, and others.

(This begins the period of Weegee’s most significant work, produced in New York between 1935 and 1947.)

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Fame is Coming

In 1938 he obtains permission to install police radio in car. He is the first photographer to be granted a permit for a shortwave radio to listen to police and fire frequencies.

Around this time he adopts the name Weegee. Many say that he adopted this name from police because of his mysterious ability to show up to a murder before police. It was said to be the phonetic rendering of Ouija.

In 1940 he is given special position by the progressive evening newspaper PM, to create photo-stories of his choice, or accept assignments from the newspaper’s editors.

Photographer unknown. Weegee at his typewriter in the trunk of his 1938 ‘Chevy,’ c.1943

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“Murder is My Business,”

In 1941 his first exhibition opens at the Photo League, New York.

In 1943 five of his photographs are acquired by The Museum of Modern Art, New York, and are included in their exhibition, “Action Photography.”

In 1945 he publishes Naked City (New York: Duell, Sloan & Pearce; Essential Books), the first book of Weegee’s photographs. There is an accompanying national publicity tour. This launches him into photographing for Vogue.

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Ending of His Carrier

In 1947 he marries Margaret Atwood, and late in the year leaves New York for Hollywood to serve as consultant on film version of Naked City. He also began to experiment with a variety of lenses and other devices to begin creating his “distortion” series.

In 1949, Weegee and Margaret Atwood are separated, and divorce a year later.

In 1952 he returns to New York after several years of living and working in Hollywood.

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In 1957 he is diagnosed with diabetes, and moves to West 47th Street, the home of Wilma Wilcox, who remains his companion until his death.

In 1968 he dies in New York on December 26, at the age of 69.

Photographer unknown. Portrait of Weegee (Arthur Fellig), c.1956 Inscribed on image: “To all my Subjects, Weegee.”

Gone But Not Forgotten

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Image Analysis

An older couple having a drink.

This could be after a hard day because the lightning makes it appear like it’s night time.

The two are bundled up so It is probably winter and definitely cold outside.

The woman has a black eye so she has fallen on he face in the past two or three days.

She appears to like the company that she is with so we can assume that he didn’t inflict her with the black eye.

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Other Fun Images by Weegee

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Questions:

Do you think that police scanners would be illegal if Weegee didn’t exist?

If Weegee didn’t exist, do you think that paparazzi would be as prevalent today?

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Works Cited

“Weegee’s World.” Museum - International Center Of Photography. Web. 15 Oct. 2009. <http://museum.icp.org/museum/ collections/special/weegee/>.

“Weegee -.” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 15 Oct. 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weegee>.

“MastersBios.” Getty Images: About Us. Web. 15 Oct. 2009. <http:// corporate.gettyimages.com/masters2/mastersBios. aspx?id=weegee>.