Steichen was a fine art painter at the beginning of the 20th century. He soon took an interest in photography but felt constrained by black and white stock, and became a pioneer in pictorialism

'The Pond Moonlight' (above) is one of the earliest colour photographs, created through the use of light-sensitive gums. In February 2006, a print of the photograph sold for US $2.9 million - the highest price ever paid for a photograph at auction at the time. He was also a prolific fashion designer, and his 1928 photo of actress Greta Garbo is hailed as her definitive portrait.