Few photographers have captured the spirit of the 20th century as vividly as Margaret Bourke-White. As a pioneering photojournalist, she broke barriers with her exploration of the world's most challenging environments and her striking images that brought global events into sharp focus.

Entering Columbia University in 1921, Margaret enrolled intending to earn a biology degree. However, during the following year, a photography class caught her attention. After receiving a secondhand camera, she quickly fell in love with the medium and spent much of her remaining college tenure in the darkroom. Although she graduated with a degree in biology, she devoted most of her time to establishing herself as a photographer.

After leaving New York, Margaret moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where she set up her first studio in her apartment. Her focus was on architectural and industrial photography, particularly steel mills and other industrial plants. At the time, many believed women couldn't handle the intense heat and hazards of the mills. Proving them wrong, Margaret produced beautiful photographs that gained her recognition. This led to her being hired to document the construction of the Chrysler Building in New York. After seeing the new building, she knew it was the perfect place for her studio, which eventually led her back to NYC.

While there, her work caught the attention of Henry Luce, founder of Time, Life, Fortune, and Sports Illustrated magazines. He offered her a position as an editor and photographer for Fortune, which she accepted. During her time there, she achieved many firsts. She became the first Western photographer allowed to enter the Soviet Union. When Luce started his third magazine, Life, he hired Margaret as its first female photojournalist, and her image of the Fort Peck Dam became its first iconic cover.

This ultimately led to her illustrious career as a photojournalist, where she documented much of WWII and many other conflicts. She became the first female war correspondent and the first woman allowed to work in combat zones during WWII. She covered battles spanning multiple countries and continents, earning the respect of her fellow photographers and the nickname "Maggie the Indestructible."

Margaret went on to document many more conflicts and stories following the war. After developing Parkinson’s disease, she ultimately retired in the 1960s, leaving behind some of the most iconic images of the 20th century.

All images courtesy of Life Magazine and Getty Images.

If you want to read more on the iconic photojournalist and see more of her images you can check out this link here and here.

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