Flash: The Making of Weegee the Famous

In this superb biography, New York magazine city editor Bonanos (Instant: The Story of Polaroid) charts the life of Arthur Felig, aka Weegee (1899–1968), from his impoverished childhood in Ukraine to his remarkable work in New York City. A self-made man and a fine artist whose original approach to photography endures, Weegee was a geeky raconteur with a camera who liked to stalk the gritty streets of New York at all hours of the night to take crime-scene photos and other sensational, often shocking images. He elevated street photography into an art form and respected the humanity of his subjects, often capturing those on the fringes of society. Bonanos has meticulously researched every aspect of Weegee's life, filling this fascinating and lively account with amusing and touching anecdotes and photographs carefully selected to illustrate Weegee's work and life.