Neil Orloff (1943-2003) was a leading environmental lawyer and noted documentary photographer. Neil's simultaneous careers as a lawyer and artist captured the combination of a powerful intellect and artistic imagination that defined a rich and productive life. After receiving an electrical engineering degree from M.I.T., an M.B.A. from Harvard and a law degree from Columbia University, Neil went to work for the World Bank. Weary of traveling to Africa, Neil shifted his professional focus and began his career as an environmental lawyer at the President's Council of Environmental Quality and joined the Environmental Protection Agency soon after its creation. Thereafter he taught environmental law at Cornell University's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and served as the director of the university's Center for Environmental Research. Neil then added to his government and academic experience by practicing environmental law, first as a partner in Irell & Manella in Los Angeles, California, and then at Parsons Behle and Latimer in Salt Lake City. Neil's legal career reflected his broad range of intelligence. For him, understanding the role of environmental law required securing the full range of perspectives: governmental, business, academic, and private practice. While practicing environmental law, Neil developed an independent career as an honored documentary photographer. His work led to Fellowships at The MacDowell and Yaddo.
Neil Orloff
Studios
Nef
Neil Orloff worked in the Nef studio.
Nef Studio, the first entirely new studio built after 1937, was donated by esteemed photographer, explorer, author, and MacDowell Fellow Evelyn Steffanson Nef in 1992. Endowed funds for the studio’s maintenance in perpetuity and an annual Fellowship for photographers were given in addition to funds for construction. Mrs. Nef said she had known about MacDowell all her…