http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20021227/ap_on_en_ot/obit_ritts One of the greatest photographers of our generation, Herb Ritts is dead at age 50, from complications of pneumonia.
I gather it was complications from AIDS. Ritts was a great photographer. His use of black and white is exceptional too and his videos were highly stylized and personal. You knew it was Ritts. He certainly contributed to the success of many actresses and models. I think Madonna, Janet Jackson and Cindy Crawford all benefited immensely from his work.
He was one of my favorite photographers. One of my goals was to someday work with him and Kevyn Aucoin (the makeup artist). They both died this year. Both were geniuses at what they did...I believe Kevyn did the makeup for both the pix in the second set that Alberto posted (it looks like his work).
dirty rumor is what some of us suspected...AIDS. It might have been the family/partner's request not to mention that as the cause, but California is right strict on cause of death in the death certificate (that's how Liberace was outed) Still, it's disturbing to have it covered up like that in 2002...maybe that was the case in 1982 and still some in 1992, but come on....everyone needs to be made aware that YES, THIS DISEASE CAN AND PROBABLY WILL KILL YOU!! (not everyone is Magic Johnson when it comes to treatment)