W. Eugene Smith

W. Eugene Smith (1918-1978) is regarded as one of the foremost photojournalists of his generation. He is best known for his photo essays in Life magazine throughout the 1940s and 1950s. Smith was also a combat photojournalist in World War II, and was seriously wounded during the battle for Okinawa. Upon returning to the United States and resuming his career after a long convalescence, Smith's photographic subjects shifted focus from hard news to everyday life. He also taught a photojournalism class at the New School for Social Research in New York City.