(August, 13, 1952 LA, USA – December, 26, 2002, LA, USA)

Herb RittsHe was an American fashion photographer who was characterized by making beautiful works in black and white and for his portraits in a style similar to the sculpture of classical Greece. Some of her most famous photos are both male and female nudes. Her famous black and white portraits include celebrities such as Kofi Annan, Cindy Crawford, Tenzin Gyatso (the Dalai Lama), Madonna, Jack Nicholson, and Elizabeth Taylor.

The son of a wealthy family, Ritts was the eldest of four siblings, and was educated by his parents, Shirley and Herb Ritts Senior, owners of a furniture store. In 1974 he obtained a degree in economics from Bard College. After graduation he returns to Los Angeles to work in the family business. While he is at the University, he communicates his homosexual status to his parents, who always supported him.

He dies in Los Angeles of complications of pneumonia. He was presumed to be a carrier of HIV.2 At the time of his death his partner was Erik Hyman. During his life he collaborated with many organizations to fight AIDS.

Works

While working in the family furniture store, he began taking night photography classes, deciding to dedicate himself professionally to it in the late 70s. One of the first works that brought him fame were the portraits he made of the actor Richard Gere. Gere was a stranger then, but a year later he had become a big star, and photos of Ritts de Gere in a white vest, arms over his head, and a cigar on his lips appeared in many US magazines.

During the 1980s and 1990s he worked for Harper’s Bazaar, Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, and Vogue, both in portraits of celebrities and fashion models. In 1981 he made the photos for the cover of Olivia Newton-John’s album, Physical. In 1984 he begins his collaboration with Madonna during the filming of Desperately Seeking Susan. In 1986 he would be responsible for the cover photos for Madonna’s album True Blue. Advised by Madonna, she enters the world of music videos, debuting with the video of the song Cherish by Madonna herself.

He photographed Cindy Crawford for two covers of Playboy magazine: in July 1988 and October 1998. His last published photographs were those published in the Vanity Fair by actor Ben Affleck, taken just 10 days before his death.