Milton H. Greene
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Milton H. Greene (March 14, 1922 in New York City - August 8, 1985) was a fashion and celebrity photographer. He is best known for the photoshoots he did with Marilyn Monroe.
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[edit] Career
Greene began taking pictures at the age of 14. Although he won a scholarship to the Pratt Institute, he chose to get his education in the working world. He apprenticed with photojournalist Elliot Elisofen. Before long, he was the assistant of Louise Dahl-Wolfe. At age twenty-three, Greene was referred to as "Color Photography's Wonder Boy".
His work appeared in major national publications including Life, Look, Harper's Bazaar, Town & Country and Vogue.
Although he was initially renowned for his high-fashion photography, it is his portraits that made his name. He wanted to create a personal rapport in which the subject would allow their true self to be seen. The range of subjects included Frank Sinatra, Marlene Dietrich, Andy Warhol, Alfred Hitchcock, Lauren Bacall and many other celebrities. However, it was his friendship, business relationship, and the photographs of Marilyn Monroe for which he is remembered.
Greene first encountered Monroe in September 1953 while on assignment for Look. They became friends and formed a film production company, Marilyn Monroe Productions, in 1955. It produced Bus Stop and The Prince and the Showgirl. Before marrying Arthur Miller, Monroe lived with Greene and his family in the Greenes' farmhouse in Weston, Connecticut. During this period, Greene photographed Monroe in over fifty sessions, creating more than five thousand images.
Later on, Greene collaborated with Norman Mailer on a fictional autobiography of Monroe, "Of Women and Their Elegance".
Greene's photography won national and international honors and awards. In recent years his photographs have been exhibited in museums and galleries throughout the world, as well as in private collections.
He died in 1985 in Los Angeles of lymph node cancer.
[edit] Personal life
Milton H. Greene was married to model Amy Greene and they had two sons, Anthony & Joshua.
[edit] References
The Milton H. Greene Archives website is the main source of this article.
