Vivian Maier : amateur photographer
Born in New York in 1926, Vivian Maier worked as a nanny and took photographs in her spare time. As far as the public is concerned, the story nearly ended there, because she didn’t share her passion with others. Towards the end of her life, her archive of more than 100,000 negatives went into a storage locker, where it might easily have been forgotten or destroyed. Indeed, in 2007 the contents of the locker were auctioned off for non-payment of rent. And that is when her images began to be shared and appreciated by others. Since she died in 2009, there have been solo exhibitions and books featuring her work.
Nearly a decade later, opinion is divided on Vivian Maier’s place in photographic history. Has she left a great body of work or is it her story that intrigues people? Undoubtedly the sudden appearance of this major archive, coupled with the story behind it, has attracted a lot of attention. But I’d like to think that her photographs can stand alone and will pass the test of time. I’m not sure that Vivian Maier would have cared what people think. She was an amateur in the true sense of the word, taking photographs for the love of it – and that is what I find inspiring.
If you’d like to see more of her work and learn more about her, I can warmly recommend the website www.vivianmaier.com
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VM had a good eye for the composition and you also get the impression she had the ability to blend into the background as not to draw attention.
I quite liked some of Shirley Baker’s street photography, I guess it’s probably more social documentary though.
SB was a bit of a dog photog not unlike yourself Richard
Good morning, Rod. I’m sure you’re right about VM blending into the background, although I can think of one image where a young boy, his leg held up by an adult, is glaring at the camera with evident dislike. In Zambia, blending into the background is almost impossible.
It’s a while since I looked at any of Shirley Baker’s photos, which I do like on the whole. Her outlook seems to have been kind and humorous.
I looked up Janet Mendelsohn, her photographs are gritty b&w’s and, I think, absolutely wonderful.
You beat me to it, Susan – I still have that pleasure to come.
I looked at ms Maier’s work not too long ago. she was a wonderful street photographer.
now I’m off to look for ms Mendelsohn.
~~susan
I agree, Susan – I think Vivian Maier’s pictures will stand the test of time. Interestingly, I think they’re probably stronger because they weren’t taken with half an eye on posterity and what the rest of the world would think of them.
It looks like Variety isn’t the spice of life for that bored chap.
Have you heard of an American photographer called Janet Mendelsohn? She did street photography around Balsall Heath, Birmingham in the 1960s & 70s as part of her studies, and her photos have been regarded as an important documentation of an area of Birmingham that has seen much change.
I’m not sure that it was fair, Eliot, taking his picture while he slept – humorous, but a bit crafty.
Janet Mendelsohn? Never heard of her, but I’ll certainly be looking online, to find out what I can about her. Thanks for the pointer.