Photographs: New York

Orkin lived in three New York City apartments during her lifetime; Horatio Street, 88th Street, and on Central Park West, and all of these locations appear throughout her work. She first photographed the children in her West Village neighborhood, and later found the vantage point from her 2nd floor window on 88th Street interesting. However, it was the view from her Central Park West apartment that she would shoot for the next 30 years. These panoramic photographs of the changing seasons and the skyline became the subject for two books "A World Through My Window" (1978) and "More Pictures From My Window." (1983) Orkin used to say that she chose the apartment, because the view was the closest thing to the orange groves and mountains of her childhood in Southern California.

Sandstorm

Sandstorm, Greenwich Village, New York City, 1949

This was taken in the West Village near her apartment on Horatio Street on Washington Street, and despite many changes to the neighborhood, this corner is still visable today.

Sunday Afternoon

Sunday Afternoon, Gansevoort Pier, New York City, 1948

The pier was a great place to shoot and was at the end of her street when she lived in the West Village. This was a scene that opened up before her eyes of a family enjoying a Sunday afternoon.

Mother and Baby in Gutter

Mother and Baby in Gutter, Horatio and Washington Streets, New York City, 1947

This is a photo of a mother cooling off her baby with an open hydrant during a long hot summer.

Boy Jumping into Hudson River

Boy Jumping into Hudson River, New York City, 1948

People are always amazed by this photo, because it is really such a high jump, almost 5 stories, and it was all for fun.

Central Park South Silhouette

Central Park South Silhouette, New York City, 1955

This was one of the few photographs that she shot of the park from the park, on the ground that is, because so many of her park photos were shot from another vantage point, her 15th floor window.

Red Hot, From the 3rd Avenue El

Red Hot, From the 3rd Avenue El, New York City, 1950

Orkin loved photos from unique vantage points, and this image from the El certainly was one of them.

Man in Rain

Man in Rain, New York City, 1952

This was taken from Orkin's window on West 88th Street. She did a series of images from the window that show all the people passing by.

White Stoops

White Stoops, New York City, 1952

This photo of the stoops across the street show the graphic quality of some of her still lifes, and how carefully they were composed.

VE Day

VE Day, Times Square, 1945

This was her first published photo that appeared in the employee newspaper at Macy's, the Macy's Star.

Two Women at Gansevoort Pier

Two Women at Gansevoort Pier, New York City, 1948

The Gansevoort Pier at the end of her street was full of activity on a summer afternoon, and these two women are modeling examples of late 40's bathing suits.

David at Penn Station

David at Penn Station, New York City, 1948

Penn Station was one of her favorite places to shoot, because as she used to say, people were just hanging around, and weren't moving. This reminded her of the Italian sculpture.

Big Joke

Big Joke, New York City, 1948

Orkin photographed the Westminster Dog Show at Madison Square Garden, and this owner was obviously enjoying the event.

Women with Statue at the Museum of Modern Art

Women with Statue at the Museum of Modern Art, New York City, 1948

This was a photo taken in the sculpture garden at the Museum of Modern Art