Born in Hokkaido in 1967, Ruger studied at Connecticut College and Columbia University. He is a fine art, fashion and anthropological photographer, whose recent work focuses on formal society portraiture, contextual portraits, and architectural and nature studies. Particular elements from art history inform his work: the compositions and psychology of nineteenth century genre painting as well as the color and sex appeal of 1970s fashion photography. Such references are not limited to his formal portraits but also shape his cityscapes and interior scenes. Ruger spent several years in Marfa, Texas, and now lives and works in New York City.