Martin Elkort

02/10/2026

Puppy Love 💕

Valentine's Day is just a few days away, and this timeless moment from the Coney Island Boardwalk perfectly captures the beautiful awkwardness of young love.

Photographer Martin Elkort snapped this scene in 1950, and it became one of his favorite photographs—and a favorite of many others. "She is as cool as a cucumber while he is twisted up like a pretzel," he recalled. But look closer: her posture suggests she's probably nervous too. He's trying to be casual—his finger casually reaching out behind her, his head and arms composed—but from the waist down, he's twisted up like a pretzel. That's what reveals his true emotions. ❤️

Some things never change.

📸 Martin Elkort, Puppy Love, 1950
Now in the permanent collection of MoMA, New York City

07/10/2025

In 1946, Martin was a counselor at Camp Onibar, a summer camp in the Poconos. Already well into his photography hobby, he captured several photographs of fellow counselor Moose Charlap. Moose later went on to be a very talented composer, creating the soundtrack for the much loved play and movie Peter Pan. Sadly, he died at the young age of 45.

During Fashion week in Paris this past June, the clothing company Bode, did a tribute to Moose featuring his also talented son Bill Charlap. Here is a link to a short video presentation of Bill Charlap talking about his dad and playing some of his compositions. https://bode.com/

04/18/2022

Happy 93rd birthday to Martin Elkort! His legacy lives on in his work and family.
Not sure who took this photo but love the look on his face. Miss you dad.

02/28/2022

I’m excited to announce that one of Martin’s photographs is in the Houston Center for Photography's 2022 Print Auction Exhibition. The auction date is March 10th but you can view the amazing and diverse array of photo-based works that can be yours through HCP’s online and live Print Auction by downloading the Artsy app or visiting hcponline.org

11/29/2021

This popped up on our feed this morning as a reminder that it's been 5 years now since Martin left us. His insight and vision is missed by so many.

This week Rfotofolio celebrates the life of photographer Martin Elkort. Martin was kind enough to do an interview with us in 2014. His vision will be missed. How did you get started photography?…

07/03/2021

In 1959 Martin shot a July 4th celebration in the small town of Mesilla New Mexico. This is a contact sheet of some of the random shots he took. He may have attended because he was writing an article for the New Mexican or New Mexico Magazine, two publications he regularly wrote for in the late 1950 - early 1960s.
Happy and safe 4th of July!

06/10/2021

In 1959 Martin visited artist Georgia O'Keefe at her home and studio. I recently found this letter from her to Martin while going through and organizing his archives.

in 1959 Martin Elkort visited artist Georgia O’Keefe at her Ghost Ranch home and studio. Martin was living in Santa Fe at the time and working as an art editor and critic for The New Mexican and a contributing writer …

06/06/2021

Martin and his wife Edythe taking an early “selfie”. Alaska 1986. Looks to be taken into the side of the Captain Cook Hotel in downtown Anchorage.

05/09/2021

Happy Mother’s Day to Martin’s mother Esther Kronenberg. An amazing woman who worked 3 jobs during the depression, her commitment to continually expose Martin to art (often against her husband’s wishes) allowed Martin’s creativity to flourish. The Elkort family’s lives were all the more rich due to her warm and generous nature.

04/18/2021

Happy Birthday to on what would be his 91st birthday. He had a truly unique view of the world and we are fortunate he chose to share it with us in his charismatic photographs and evocative writings.

04/08/2021

On this day of Yom HaShoah, or Day of Remembrance, let us never forget the atrocities committed against 6 million Jews who perished as a result of the actions carried out by the N***s and the heroism of the survivors and rescuers. Hope springs eternal in the resilience of the human spirit.
These photos are from the ORT School taken in 1950, where Holocaust survivors were trained in skills to prepare them for work in the garment industry.