Lee Friedlander (born 1934 in Aberdeen, Washington) is one of the most influential American photographers of the twentieth century, renowned for his black‑and‑white images of the urban “social landscape.” His photographic interest began at age fourteen, and after briefly studying at the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles, he moved to New York in 1956 to pursue professional photography.

Early in his career, Friedlander photographed jazz musicians for Atlantic Records, including Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, and Charles Mingus, while also freelancing for major magazines such as Esquire and Sports Illustrated. His distinctive style—built on reflections, shadows, architectural framing, and complex spatial layering—emerged in the 1960s.

In 1967 he was featured in the Museum of Modern Art’s landmark “New Documents” exhibition alongside Garry Winogrand and Diane Arbus, a pivotal moment that established him as a leading voice in contemporary American photography. Working primarily with a Leica 35mm camera, Friedlander produced iconic series such as The Little Screens, Self Portrait, and The American Monument, which explored themes of identity, consumer culture, and the American landscape.

Throughout his long career he has received numerous honors, including multiple Guggenheim Fellowships, the MacDowell Medal (1986), and the MacArthur Fellowship (1990). His photographs have been exhibited internationally and remain foundational to the evolution of street and documentary photography.