A pioneering news photographer who captured intimate, candid shots of world leaders and celebrities, often using hidden cameras and innovative techniques.
Erich Salomon, a pioneering German-Jewish photographer, is renowned for his audacious and innovative approach to capturing the inner workings of diplomacy and the legal profession. With his clever use of concealment and multilingual abilities, Salomon gained unparalleled access to the most exclusive and restricted circles, leaving an indelible mark on the world of photojournalism.
Born on April 28, 1886, in Berlin, Germany, Salomon was the son of Emil Salomon, a wealthy Jewish banker and Royal Councillor of Commerce, and Therese Salomon (née Schler). He was raised in an upper-class Berlin family, where he was exposed to the finer things in life. Salomon's curiosity and passion for learning led him to study law, engineering, and zoology up to World War I.
During World War I, Salomon served on the Western Front and was captured by the French in 1914. After the war, he worked in the promotion department of the Ullstein publishing empire, where he designed billboard advertisements. It wasn't until 1927, at the age of 41, that Salomon picked up a camera to document legal disputes, marking the beginning of his illustrious photographic career.
Salomon's innovative spirit and resourcefulness led him to conceal an Ermanox camera in his bowler hat, allowing him to capture intimate moments in the most restricted environments. By cutting a hole in the hat for the lens, Salomon snapped a photo of a police killer on trial in a Berlin criminal court, thus pioneering the art of candid photography.
In 1928, Salomon began working for Ullstein's Berliner Illustrirte Zeitung as a photographer, capitalizing on his linguistic skills and clever concealment tactics to gain access to the highest echelons of European society. His reputation soared as he photographed historic events, including the signing of the Kellogg-Briand Pact in 1928, where he brazenly occupied the vacant seat of the Polish delegate to capture the moment.
Salomon's camera lens pierced the veil of secrecy, capturing the passage to Ellis Island, a detention and immigration center, as well as a session of the U.S. Supreme Court – a feat achieved by only two known persons. His photographic repertoire extended to the corridors of power, documenting the intricacies of European diplomacy.
Following Adolf Hitler's rise to power in Nazi Germany, Salomon fled to the Netherlands with his wife, where he continued his photographic career in The Hague. Despite an invitation from Life magazine to relocate to the United States, Salomon declined, remaining in Europe until his untimely passing on July 7, 1944.
Erich Salomon's groundbreaking work has left an indelible mark on the world of photojournalism, inspiring generations of photographers to push the boundaries of their craft. His innovative approach to candid photography has paved the way for a more intrusive and revelatory style of reporting, allowing the public to glimpse the behind-the-scenes workings of power and diplomacy.
As we gaze upon Salomon's remarkable body of work, we are reminded that even the most seemingly inaccessible realms can be breached with determination, creativity, and a willingness to challenge the status quo.
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