Lee Miller (historical photographer)

Lee Miller was born in 1907 in Poughkeepsie, New York. She started out as model, but at the age of 22 went to Paris. While there, she worked with the infamous surrealist artist, Man Ray, and soon after started her own studio. After a few years, Miller went back to New York where she opened another studio, and was very successful as a fashion photographer and portraitist.

After two years, she closed it when she wed a wealthy Egyptian businessman. They moved to Egypt where she photographed the desert landscape. They were together until 1937, when Miller met her next future husband, Roland Penrose. She moved in with him in London shortly before World War II.

In 1944, Miller became a correspondent for the United States Army. It is probable that Miller was the only photojournalist to follow the troops in WWII. While in Europe, she shot many memorable and shocking moments, including dying children in Vienna and peasant life in Hungary. After the war, she married Penrose and helped him develop biographies for many surrealist artists of the time. She was probably best known for her photojournalism during the war, also for her surrealist images.