A $10 bet during a 1952 dice game would eventually be worth more than Jim Alexander could ever imagine. The 88-year-old famed documentary photographer has lived a life beyond the quarter of a million photographs he’s taken.
Alexander was born to David and Frances James Alexander in Waldwick, New Jersey. In speaking with “Closer Look” host Rose Scott, Alexander said school was never exciting, but he loved reading his older siblings’ schoolbooks. It wasn’t evident to his parents that photography would be his calling. They figured maybe he’d become a musician. A lover of horses, he thought maybe he’d embark upon a career as a jockey – they were all wrong.
At the age of 17, he joined the United States Navy. One day, with a little time on their hands, Alexander and some fellow sailors participated in a friendly dice game. Alexander rolled a ten and was challenged to duplicate the feat. He would get ten dollars from the sailor that made the bet. Alexander rolled a ten, but no money was coming his way. Instead, it was a little cardboard box. He opened the box and inside was a camera.
Read this story for free
To continue reading, sign up for our newsletters and get unlimited access to WABE.org
We won't share your information with outside organizations Why am I seeing this?
