Born the 29th of August, 1912 in Vienna, Suschitsky carved out a distinctive style of photography in the United Kingdom. He was raised by liberal Jewish parents who owned a radical bookstore in Vienna, and was largely inspired by his photographer sister, Edith. During the rise of Nazism, Wolfgang's father killed himself and Suschitzky left Vienna for Amsterdam. He met his first wife in Holland and they soon opened a photography studio together. Suschitzky was committed to photographing his adopted homeland and to helping others escape from his former one, including two cousins who were held at Dachau. Suschitzky found refuge in England and produced the bulk of his iconic images there.
The career of London-based photographer, cameraman, and humanist Wolfgang Suschitzky spans more than 70 years. He created a legacy of socially engaged photography and film work known for its integrity and compassion, having worked on over a hundred documentary, feature, and commercial films. His photographs are held in collections worldwide. Never forcing an image but, rather, waiting patiently for an opportunity for the picture to present itself. Suschitzky liked to think of himself as a photographer of "all things that are photographable," joking that his favorite photographic genres are children and animals "because they don't complain." His photographs are proof for the respect and compassion with which he treats each new subject.
Suschitzky died on October 7th, 2016 at the age of 104.