Photographer Of The Week (Weegee)
(At an East Side murder, 1943) Weegee was born on June 12, 1899, in the town of Lemberg (now in Ukraine). Originally named Usher Fellig he changed his name to Arthur when he moved because he thought it was more American sounding. He moved to New York City at age eleven (1910) however he did not start his work in the photography business until age Fourteen (1914). His first works in photography were as a darkroom technician at Ducket & Alder in lower Manhattan. Self-taught, young Weegee got his start as a photographer in 1918 at a studio in lower Manhattan this led to a plethora of other photography-related jobs until 1935 when he became a freelance Photographer where newspapers would want his photos so badly, they would bid on them. Weegee focused most of his work on crime photos/ police headquarters this was his claim to fame. This is also how he gained the nickname Weegee originally after an Ouija board he was always around death/murder hence the saying “Mur