It is rare for an artist to excel in two media and successfully communicate his vision, but Jerry Schatzberg accomplished just that. During the 60s, Schatzberg's photographs appeared in many magazines, including Vogue and McCall's. His portrait and fashion photographs conveyed intimacy and directness. There exists an honesty which prevails throughout the images, a sense of the real, a sense of the moment when the facade is broken.

During the 70s, Schatzberg participated in the renaissance of the American cinema. He directed films as: Puzzle of a Downfall Child, The Panic in Needle Park, Scarecrow, and Street Smart. His films mark an important time in the history of film when the solid narrative and plot were at their strongest, before the arrival of the world of special effects.