Martin Elkort (American, b. April 18, 1929 – d. November 19, 2016) was born in New York and grew up amidst the Great Depression. He took his first professional photograph at the age of 10 while on a car trip with his family in Baltimore. The Baltimore Sun purchased his photographs of submerged cars during a flood and at that point, he was hooked on photography.
At the age of 15 Martin came down with polio and spent 4 months in the hospital. When he returned home, his parents bought him his first Ciroflex, a twin-lens reflex camera, that cost them about a week’s salary at the time. After his recovery, he set out around Manhattan taking pictures of whatever interested him.
The majority of photographs in the collection were shot circa 1945-1956. Many during this era were taken during Martin's membership in the New York Photo League. His more recent works, shot in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Texas and Mexico, continue the style of street photography that has made Martin Elkort’s photographs unique and endearing to many generations.
Children: Behind the Lens by Martin Elkort is now available for purchase. This 9 x 9 inch offset print photography book will make a wonderful addition to any photographer’s book collection as well as anyone who enjoys experiencing the world through a child’s joyful eye.
DOCUMENTARY
In the 1940’s and 1950’s, Martin Elkort roamed the urban landscape of New York City with his camera in search of the perfect picture. His indelible images of simpler times remind us that the human experience can be a joyous one. Poignant and insightful, his photographs reflect the Great American Melting Pot in all its unpolished glory.
PHOTO NARRATIVES
Enjoy these YouTube productions with slideshows of the photographs and voiceover narratives as seen through the eyes of Martin Elkort.
You can review the archive of photos by selecting from the following categories
The iconic city of New York bundled up in a blanket of snow, a reminder of a simpler time. This vintage photograph shot by Martin in 1948, takes us on a journey through the bustling streets, now quiet and still.
(Remarks given during the opening of Martin Elkort’s one-man show at the Barry Singer Gallery, Petaluma California in February of 2006) I’d like to take a few minutes to talk
In 1959 Martin Elkort visited artist Georgia O’Keefe at her Ghost Ranch home and studio. Martin was living in Santa Fe at the time and working as an art editor
And Still It Was Bittersweet Martin Elkort, an enormously talented artist, was not only a street photographer, an illustrator, a writer with numerous books and magazine articles to his name,
Featured in Rangefinder Magazine (January 2007) Why Street Photography? Willie Sutton, when asked why he robbed banks, famously replied, “Because that’s where the money is.” If asked why he or
View, positive, depth, focus, develop. Those words have special meanings for photographers, as they had to Martin Elkort when he joined the Photo League of New York in 1947. The
