Margaret Bourke-White

Trailblazing photojournalist who captured historic moments and shattered gender barriers in media

Margaret Bourke-White (1904–1971) was a visionary photojournalist whose daring work for Life magazine and coverage of WWII redefined visual storytelling. As one of the first female war correspondents, she broke gender barriers in a male-dominated field and documented pivotal 20th-century events.

Bourke-White’s technical mastery and bold compositions earned her fame. Her 1930 photograph of the Chrysler Building’s gargoyle, shot while dangling from a crane, epitomized her fearless approach. She became Life’s first female staff photographer, with her image of Fort Peck Dam gracing its debut issue in 1936.

During WWII, Bourke-White photographed combat zones in Europe, including the liberation of Buchenwald concentration camp. Her stark images exposed Nazi atrocities, shaping public understanding of the Holocaust. She later covered Partition-era India, capturing iconic portraits of Gandhi hours before his assassination.

Bourke-White’s career was marked by relentless innovation. She pioneered aerial photography and used flash techniques to illuminate industrial subjects. Despite battling Parkinson’s disease in her later years, she continued working, symbolizing resilience. Her legacy lives on in modern photojournalism’s emphasis on empathy and truth-telling.