Herb Ritts was an American photographer and filmmaker whose elegant black-and-white photographs transformed fashion photography, celebrity portraiture, and commercial advertising during the 1980s and 1990s. Renowned for his minimalist compositions, masterful use of natural light, and sculptural treatment of the human body, Ritts became one of the defining image-makers of his generation. His work bridged the worlds of fashion, fine art, music, and popular culture, establishing a visual style that continues to influence photographers, designers, and filmmakers worldwide.