Ralph Steiner

Ralph Steiner Studied at the Clarence H. White School of Photography in 1921. Subsequently, he found work at the New York photogravure Company, and then as a freelance photographer working in advertising and for various publications. He joined The Film and Photo League in 1927 and in 1929 made his first film, H2O. In 1930, Steiner began teaching at Harry Alan Potamkin Film School. After the school closed not long after, he and Leo Hurwitz formed Nykino, a group of cinematographers who believed in using film as a means of social action. Steiner continued his filmmaking with Surf and Seaweed in 1931 and Mechanical Principals in 1933. He is perhaps best known for his work as cinematographer for Pare Lorentz’ The Plow that Broke the Plains, a 1936 documentary on the Dust Bowl. Steiner also co-directed The City with Willard Van Dyke in 1939. He returned to freelance photography in 1948 until he retired in 1962. (Ware 2013)