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Herb Ritts
Music videos
Life and career
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August 13, 1952 - December 26, 2002 Fashion photographer of celebrities, models and other cultural figures of 1980s and 1990s Black and white photography; portraits; style of Greek sculpture that emphasise the human shape He was born in a jewish family and began working in family furniture business. His father was a businessman and a mother worked His first directed video was of Madonna in 1989 in ‘’Cherish’’. Ritts also directed the video music for Michael Jackson, in which took part Naomi Campbell. Other then that he also worked on directing and acting, in such videos as for Jennifer Lopez, Shakira ‘’ Underneath your clothes’’, Britney Spears 2001 ‘’ Don't let me be the last to know’’. Overall shot 11 videos during his whole career.
Death
Ritts died from pneumonia at age of 50. According to his publicist he was HIV-positive. But at the end of the day his immune system was compromised.
as an interior designer He studied in Bard College and majored in economics / art history Became interested in photography with his friend Richard Gere while living in Los Angeles After he made one shot of an aspiring actor in front of an old jacked up Buick, it gained Ritts some coverage. He photographed Brooke Shield for Elle cover 1981, Olivia Newton-John for her album in 1981 and replicated cover pose with Madonna in 1986. As well as took photos of Johnny Depp,
David Bowie, Britney Spears, Michael Jackson and many others. Produced covers and photos for Vogue, Vanity
Fair, Elle, Interview and Rolling Stones. Created campaigns for Donna Karan, Chanel, Versace, Armani, Levi’s, Calvin Klein, Valentino... He was openly gay.
For me, a portrait“ is something from which you feel the person, their inner quality, what it is that makes them who they are.”
Herb Ritts, 1999
