April 28: The Hidden Camera

Erich Salomon, a pioneer of modern photojournalism, was born in Germany on this date in 1886. Born into wealth, a student of law, engineering and zoology, he did not pick up a camera until the age of 41, when he hid a small one in his bowler hat and took photos of a sensational murder trial. The following year, he used his multilingual abilities and hidden camera techniques to surreptitiously photograph the signing of the Kellogg-Briand Pact. His off-guard pictures of diplomats and politicians were revolutionary for their time and gave rise to an age of photojournalism and “photo opportunities.” After the rise of Nazism, Salomon fled to the Netherlands and declined an offer to move to the United States to work for Life magazine. He died in Auschwitz in 1944. Salomon is one of only two people known to have photographed the U.S. Supreme Court in session.

“Where is Dr. Salomon? We can’t start without him. The people won’t think this conference is important at all!” -Aristide Briand