Photographer N. R. Farbman. (Photo by Harry Redl/The LIFE Images Collection)

Photographer N. R. Farbman. (Photo by Harry Redl/The LIFE Images Collection)

N.R. Farbman (1907-1988) began working as a freelance photographer while studying electrical engineering at the University of Santa Clara. During his 15 years as a LIFE staffer, “Nat” was considered one of its most versatile practitioners, covering stories in the US and extensively abroad. His work on tribes in Botswana was included in the Museum of Modern Art’s Family of Man exhibit. After he married the former fashion model and photographer Pat English in 1940, they became a husband-and-wife photographic team for the magazine.

Adapted from The Great LIFE Photographers

Bushman children sitting around their chief as he acts out a story, southern Kalahari Desert in central-southern Africa. (Photo by N.R. Farbman/The LIFE Picture Collection © Meredith Corporation)

Bushman children sitting around their chief as he acts out a story, southern Kalahari Desert in central-southern Africa. (Photo by N.R. Farbman/The LIFE Picture Collection © Meredith Corporation)

Two boys sitting on doorstep. (Photo by N.R. Farbman/The LIFE Picture Collection © Meredith Corporation)

Two boys sitting on doorstep. (Photo by N.R. Farbman/The LIFE Picture Collection © Meredith Corporation)

Bushman children playing games on sand dunes.(Photo by N.R. Farbman/The LIFE Picture Collection © Meredith Corporation)

Bushman children playing games on sand dunes. (Photo by N.R. Farbman/The LIFE Picture Collection © Meredith Corporation)

More Like This

Leopard about to kill a terrified baboon. (Photo by John Dominis/The LIFE Picture Collection © Meredith Corporation) Photographer

John Dominis

Imperial Dam in California. (Photo by Horace Bristol/The LIFE Picture Collection © Meredith Corporation) Photographer

Horace Bristol

Vice President Richard Nixon sitting in the back seat of a dimly lit limousine after a day taking over duties for President Eisenhower, during his hospitalization from a stroke. (Photo by Hank Walker/The LIFE Picture Collection © Meredith Corporation) Photographer

Hank Walker

Bikini clad actress Jayne Mansfield posing with shapely bottles floating around her in her pool. (Photo by Allan Grant/The LIFE Picture Collection © Meredith Corporation). Photographer

Allan Grant

A view of Adolf Hitler's burning mountain house, "The Eagle's Nest." (Photo by David E. Scherman/The LIFE Picture Collection © Meredith Corporation) Photographer

David E. Scherman

Harvard students in lecture hall. (Photo by Arthur Griffin/The LIFE Picture Collection © Meredith Corporation) Photographer

Arthur Griffin