Herbert Ritts Jr. (1952–2002) was a prominent American fashion photographer and music video director known for his evocative black-and-white photography of celebrities, models, and cultural figures during the 1980s and 1990s. His work is characterized by a signature blend of classical Greek sculpture aesthetics, dramatic lighting, and bold contrasts inspired by California landscapes. Ritts was educated at Bard College, where he studied economics with a minor in art history. He began his photography career in the mid-1970s, eventually becoming a sought-after photographer for major publications like Vogue, Rolling Stone, and Harper's Bazaar. He also directed numerous music videos for high-profile artists including Madonna, Janet Jackson, and Tina Turner. Ritts was openly gay and lived with entertainment lawyer Erik Hyman until his death from pneumonia in 2002.[1,2,3,4]
