Born in Wichita, Kansas and was taught photographer by his mother. Became greatly invested in photography as a teenager and had many photographs published in multiple magazines by age twenty-one. Received an assignment to document the war in the Pacific during World War II. This experience led him to begin working on projects for social justice. Was wounded during his service and returned home to New York where he focused on anti-war subjects. Initially worked for LIFE magazine but later transitioned to working as a solo artist. Was extremely passionate about his work and eventually left his family to dedicate his life to photography, which culminated in his retrospective at the Jewish Museum in New York in 1970. Moved to Japan for his final project, focusing on industrial pollution in the village of Minimata.