Ruth Orkin (1921–1985) Times Square, V-E Day, NYC, 1945 Gelatin-silver print, 16 x 20 in. (40.6 x 50.8 cm) © Ruth Orkin/Courtesy Estate of Ruth Orkin
	Ruth Orkin spent her childhood surrounded by the glamour of Hollywood, where her mother, Mary Ruby, was a silent film actress. In this photograph Orkin conveys the power of Times Square as a world amphitheater during the V-E Day (Victory in Europe) celebrations in 1945. This view focusing on the early television cameras (including the CBS logo) above the seemingly infinite crowd signals the development of this new technology. These cameras, in combination with the Statue of Liberty model built for the occasion, Imperial whiskey advertisement and trio of American flags emphasize the triumphal aura of post-war America.