Weegee

About the Author

Weegee, born Arthur Fellig in 1899 in what is now Ukraine, immigrated to New York City as a child and became one of the 20th century's most iconic photographers, capturing the raw underbelly of urban life with unflinching intensity. Working as a freelance press photographer in the 1930s and 1940s, he earned his nickname 'Weegee' from the Ouija board, symbolizing his uncanny ability to arrive at crime scenes before the police, thanks to his police radio and tireless night prowls. His stark black-and-white images of murders, fires, accidents, and the gritty nightlife of the streets immortalized the drama and despair of Depression-era and wartime New York, blending documentary realism with a tabloid sensationalism that influenced generations of visual storytellers. Beyond photography, Weegee ventured into filmmaking and writing, with his seminal photo book Naked City (1945) offering an intimate portrait of the city's hidden corners, and Weegee: Masters of Photography Series showcasing his masterful technique. His work remains a testament to the power of the lens in revealing societal truths, earning him a lasting place in photographic history.