Photo portraits of stars by Herb Ritts - a master with impeccable taste

American photographer Herb Ritts is often called a portraitist with impeccable taste. He photographed models and stars of cinema, music and sports in the 90s, leaving us with wonderful pictures of young celebrities. Ritts ignored the boundaries between art and commercial photography, bringing a fresh perspective on portraits to art. His works look equally good framed on the wall, on the page of a glossy fashion magazine or in an advertising brochure.

Herb Ritts was born in 1952 in Los Angeles. After high school, he attended Bard College in New York City, where he studied economics and art history. After receiving his diploma, Herb returned to Los Angeles and worked as a furniture salesman for his father's company.

Ritz became interested in photography in the 1970s. He took photos on the street, considering photography just a hobby. But in 1978, Herb met a photogenic young man at a gas station and offered to photograph him. The man turned out to be Richard Gere, and the photo became a sensation and appeared in three world-famous publications within a month.

Thus began the professional career of photographer Herb Ritts. He took portrait, editorial and fashion shots for Vogue, Vanity Fair, Interview and Rolling Stone magazines, organized advertising campaigns, directed commercials and music videos.

The photographs by Herb Ritts are distinguished by their amazing purity of lines, excellent taste and conciseness. The master once admitted that he was inspired by ancient Greek sculpture. Many believe that the secret of the appeal of his works is the aesthetics of ease, which is noticeable in most of the portraits.

Unfortunately, fate gave the talented photographer very little time. Herb Ritts died in 2002 from complications of pneumonia. He was only 50 years old.

Herb Ritts left behind an outstanding legacy, continuing to inspire photographers and art lovers alike. His ability to combine elegance, minimalism, and genuine emotion has made his work iconic. What do you think makes a photograph truly great – technique, composition, or that elusive moment when magic is born in the frame? Share your opinion in the comments!