Bill Ray

A former staff photographer for Life magazine, Bill Ray captured some of the most important actors, musicians, and scientists of his generation on film, including Elvis Presley, the Beatles, and Carl Sagan. In addition to photographing celebrities, Ray also traveled around the world, documenting the Vietnam War and other historic events. His photographs have appeared on numerous Newsweek covers and have also been featured in such magazines as the Smithsonian.

Interested in photography from a very young age, Ray began seriously committing himself to the medium the day he graduated from high school, and he continued to work while attending university. In 1957 he accepted a job at National Geographic; however, he was offered a freelancing job with Life magazine the same year. He chose the Life job, and by 1964 he was their staff photographer. He remained with the magazine until Life ceased weekly publication in 1972.