Nina Leen was one of the first women photographers for LIFE. Born in Russia, grew up in Germany, Switzerland and Italy. Upon first arriving in the United States in 1939, her reporter's eye led to a series of the habits and rituals of her newly adopted homeland. In 1945, Leen joined LIFE, producing over 40 covers and countless spreads for the magazine. Her series on, "A Teenager Monopolizes the Telephone," or her descriptions and images of "The American Male," are portraits of the North American society of its time.
