Arthur Fellig: The real-life ‘Nightcrawler’

As a poor New York immigrant in the 1930s, Arthur Fellig was an aspiring photographer but couldn’t find a job. Working his way up as a darkroom assistant, he learned the tricks of the trade and eventually struck out on his own.


For years, he monitored police radio and raced to murder scenes alongside (or even ahead of) the authorities. Over the years, he would become a front-page regular, always grabbing the most gruesome shots, the images he knew would thrill readers.