Ralph Steiner
Director
About Ralph Steiner
Ralph Steiner was a seminal figure in the American avant-garde and documentary film movements of the 1920s and 1930s. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1899, he initially studied chemistry at Dartmouth College before pursuing his passion for photography at the Clarence H. White School of Modern Photography in New York. His early career was defined by a mastery of still photography, where he became known for his precision and geometric compositions. In 1929, he transitioned into filmmaking with the abstract short 'H2O,' which earned immediate acclaim for its poetic study of light and water. Throughout the 1930s, Steiner became increasingly involved in socially conscious cinema, co-founding the influential 'Frontier Films' and 'Nykino' collectives. He served as a key cinematographer on the landmark New Deal documentary 'The Plow That Broke the Plains' (1936) and co-directed the celebrated urban planning documentary 'The City' (1939). After a brief and unsatisfying stint in Hollywood as a writer-producer in the 1940s, he returned to New York to focus on commercial photography and later produced a series of personal films titled 'The Joy of Seeing' in his retirement.
The Craft
Behind the Camera
Steiner's directing style was characterized by a 'pure cinema' approach, focusing on the rhythmic and abstract qualities of the visual world. In his early experimental work, he utilized extreme close-ups and unconventional angles to transform everyday objects—like gears, water, or seaweed—into mesmerizing patterns of light and motion. As he moved into social documentaries, his style evolved to combine this formalist beauty with a clear, persuasive narrative intent, often aimed at promoting social reform or documenting the human condition within industrial environments. His later work returned to a more personal, contemplative style that celebrated the simple 'joy of seeing' without political or commercial artifice.
Milestones
- Directed 'H2O' (1929), one of the first major American abstract films.
- Cinematographer for the historic documentary 'The Plow That Broke the Plains' (1936).
- Co-directed 'The City' (1939), which premiered at the New York World's Fair.
- Founding member of the film collectives Nykino and Frontier Films.
- Recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1974 for his contributions to photography.
- Induction of 'H2O' into the National Film Registry in 2005.
Best Known For
Must-See Films
Accolades
Won
- Photoplay Amateur Movie Contest Winner (1929) for 'H2O'
- Guggenheim Fellowship in Photography (1974)
- Honorary Master of Photography Award from the Milwaukee Center of Photography (1981)
- Elmhurst Foundation Film Grant
Nominated
- National Film Registry Induction for 'H2O' (2005)
Special Recognition
- Retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
- Works held in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Works held in the Art Institute of Chicago
Working Relationships
Worked Often With
Studios
Why They Matter
Impact on Culture
Ralph Steiner was a pivotal figure in establishing the American avant-garde tradition, proving that film could be an abstract art form comparable to painting or music. His film 'H2O' broke ground by moving away from narrative entirely to focus on the formal properties of the medium. Beyond the experimental, his work with Frontier Films helped define the 'social documentary' genre in the United States, using high-quality cinematography to advocate for New Deal policies and urban reform. He effectively bridged the worlds of high art, commercial photography, and political activism, influencing how reality was captured on film during the Great Depression.
Lasting Legacy
Steiner's legacy is preserved through his inclusion in the National Film Registry and the continued study of his films in cinema history curricula. He is remembered as a master of 'The Machine Age' aesthetic, capturing the beauty of industrialization while also documenting its human costs. His transition from still photography to moving images helped set the technical standards for early independent filmmaking. Today, he is recognized not just as a filmmaker, but as one of the 20th century's most important visual stylists whose work remains a touchstone for experimental and documentary creators.
Who They Inspired
His visual precision influenced a generation of photographers, most notably Walker Evans, whom Steiner mentored in technical camera work. In the realm of cinema, his rhythmic editing and abstract compositions influenced the later 'New American Cinema' and experimental filmmakers like Maya Deren and Stan Brakhage. His ability to find 'the extraordinary in the ordinary' continues to inspire contemporary avant-garde artists who focus on the meditative and perceptual qualities of the film medium.
Off Screen
Steiner grew up in Cleveland and spent much of his professional life in New York City. He was known for his intellectual curiosity and his ability to bridge the gap between commercial success in advertising and avant-garde artistic pursuits. In his later years, he moved to Vermont and spent his summers on an island in Maine, where he continued to photograph and film the natural world until his death at age 87.
Education
Dartmouth College (Degree in Chemistry, 1921); Clarence H. White School of Modern Photography (1921-1922).
Family
- Caroline Steiner (dates unknown)
Did You Know?
- Steiner's first job was making photogravure plates for Robert Flaherty's 'Nanook of the North' (1922).
- He studied chemistry at Dartmouth before deciding to become a photographer.
- His film 'Mechanical Principles' was shot partly at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry.
- He spent four years in Hollywood in the 1940s but hated the studio system, calling it 'creative death.'
- His 1944 photograph 'Gypsy Rose Lee and Her Girls' is frequently misattributed to the photographer Weegee.
- He was a member of the Group Theatre and collaborated with a young Elia Kazan on the film 'Pie in the Sky.'
- Steiner's later films were grouped under the title 'The Joy of Seeing' and were made purely for personal pleasure.
- He was one of the first photographers to use a view camera to capture the abstract geometry of New York skyscrapers.
In Their Own Words
The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.
I wanted to make films that were not about something, but were the thing itself.
In Hollywood, they don't want you to see; they want you to look at what they tell you to look at.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Ralph Steiner?
Ralph Steiner was an American photographer and filmmaker who became a leading figure in the 1930s avant-garde and documentary movements. He is best known for his abstract short films and his work on socially significant documentaries like 'The City'.
What films is Ralph Steiner best known for?
He is most famous for his experimental debut 'H2O' (1929), the mechanical study 'Mechanical Principles' (1930), and the influential urban documentary 'The City' (1939).
When was Ralph Steiner born and when did he die?
He was born on February 8, 1899, in Cleveland, Ohio, and passed away on July 13, 1986, in Hanover, New Hampshire.
What awards did Ralph Steiner win?
Steiner won the Photoplay Amateur Movie Contest in 1929 and was later honored with a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1974. His film 'H2O' was also preserved in the National Film Registry.
What was Ralph Steiner's directing style?
His style was defined by 'pure cinema,' using rhythmic editing and abstract visual patterns to find beauty in everyday objects. He moved from pure abstraction to social realism, always maintaining a high level of photographic precision.
Learn More
Films
1 film
