Born to very young parents who divorced when she was two, her father Lucien Bernhard was a well known graphic and typeface designer. Her mother left for the United States to remarry, leaving Ruth in Germany with her father. Ruth was reared in a highly cultured atmosphere by two teachers in their forties, sisters Helene and Katrina Lotze. Enrolled in boarding school at eleven: studied at Akademie der Kunst, Berlin, 1925-27. Her father moved to New York City for Pynson Printers in 1923 and Ruth followed there upon his request in 1927.
Ruth worked for Ralph Steiner, then became head of the photography section at Delineator Magazine. In 1929 she was fired from that position for being "unenthusiastic".
Ruth continued to by photographic equipment with her severance pay and did freelance fashion work. Notable clients in this period included The New York Times, Advertising Art, Macy's and Sloane's as well as some of her father's friends in advertising.
Ruth became a naturalized citizen in 1935. That same year she met Edward Weston who had a profound influence on her. In 1936, Ruth moved to Santa Monica, Ca. to study with Weston only to find he had moved up to Carmel.
From 1936 - 1953 She freelanced in the Los Angeles area all the while photographing still life's and female nudes. Her interest in shells lead to a collaboration with conchologist Jean Schwengel in the 40's.
Part of many museum and private collections, she has published 2 portfolios of original prints, "The Gift of the Commonplace", and "The Eternal Body".
She died in SF at the age of 101.
