More Vivian Maier

Pieter12 · Nov 3, 2021

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Vivian-Maier-Developed/Ann-Marks/9781982166748

Deleted member 88956 · Nov 3, 2021

Maier is perfect example of one album is enough to see it all. But she has no idea what has been done with her dedication to keep on clicking in the streets, so it is not her fault. And the use of ... nanny ... every time her name is being exploited is sickening.

Having said that, I'm sure many will enjoy the book and never feel the way some do.

greg zinselmeier · Nov 3, 2021

Boring!

Pieter12 · Nov 3, 2021

Did either of you read the synopsis?

CMoore · Nov 3, 2021

greg zinselmeier said:
Boring!

Amazon implies it is available for "Pre-Order"
Is it for sale other places.?

You have already, read the book.?

Valerie · Nov 3, 2021

Thank you for this! I've found her story fascinating (what little is known). This book will certainly find its way to my bookshelf at some point.

Pieter12 · Nov 3, 2021

A bit more about the book...https://www.blind-magazine.com/en/s...u-always-wanted-to-know-about-vivian-maier-en

awty · Nov 3, 2021

Pieter12 said:
A bit more about the book...https://www.blind-magazine.com/en/s...u-always-wanted-to-know-about-vivian-maier-en

Read it what a load of rubbish.
The whole thing is imoral, misrepresenting someone's identity to profit.

Pieter12 · Nov 3, 2021

awty said:
Read it what a load of rubbish.
The whole thing is imoral, misrepresenting someone's identity to profit.

And you know the real story?

Deleted member 88956 · Nov 4, 2021

Old Gregg said:
"Perfect example"? I am not aware of any photographer (or a musician) that dramatically changed their style/interests mid-career, and that's fine. The question is about her work's longevity. I don't get bored looking at it and can't get enough of it. Your choice of words is unfortunate.

A "perfect example" assumes something happening frequently. But I can't remember a single photographer that held my attention this long.

She is not a "perfect example". She's an outlier.

Perhaps I was not clear enough. She is an example, perfect for what I was trying to say, of a photographer who takes a picture, then many more and in the end most look like the first one. I have one book of her images (and fully enjoy it), yet I will certainly not buy another for this very reason. Same applies to many many well known photographers BTW. At the same time I have never said a bad word about her images, just that there is a lot of documentary value in them which partly drives sales of books with her images and/or life story.

I think infatuation with Maier has a lot to do with purposely made enigmatic image of her as a person for no other reason, but to cash in on the finding of her negatives. For some that might be called shrewd, for me ... exploitation of a one who is no longer alive, who might otherwise want to speak up on her own story. Truth is we will never know what Maier was about or how she would have liked to be (or not) portrayed in the public.

Deleted member 88956 · Nov 4, 2021

Since

Pieter12 said:
Did either of you read the synopsis?

Since when synopsis is indication of anything? It's most of the time a list of few highlights which upon purchase are often near impossible to locate. I buy a lot on line, but there is no better way to buy a book then at a store, touch it, feel it, get an actual sense of what's inside it.

Pieter12 · Nov 4, 2021

The synopsis does give an indication that the author has done research that reveals a bit more about Ms Maier's life. I think there is value and insight that might prove interesting to those who would like to understand more about her and her work and motivations.

awty · Nov 4, 2021

Pieter12 said:
And you know the real story?

I can distinguish between fact and fantasy,
"This story began in 2007 with John Maloof, a twenty-five-year-old real-estate agent, who, at a blind auction, bought tens of thousands of negatives, and quickly realized they had a lot of potential — especially when Allan Sekula bought a few prints and suggested that he should not post this work on Flickr".

Her stuff was changing hands before Maloof got his hands on anything, he was certainly not the first to profit from her pictures, he was just more clever than the rest. She didnt die till 2009 over 2 years after she forfeited her lockers. Noone tried to track her down or new who she was while she was still alive?

This is the authors first book, "Ann Marks is a retired New York business executive with a passion for genealogical research and mystery",...... perfect for the romantic.

Alan Edward Klein · Nov 4, 2021

Do you mean I have to become a nanny to become famous?

Helios 1984 · Nov 4, 2021

awty said:
I can distinguish between fact and fantasy,
"This story began in 2007 with John Maloof, a twenty-five-year-old real-estate agent, who, at a blind auction, bought tens of thousands of negatives, and quickly realized they had a lot of potential — especially when Allan Sekula bought a few prints and suggested that he should not post this work on Flickr".

Her stuff was changing hands before Maloof got his hands on anything, he was certainly not the first to profit from her pictures, he was just more clever than the rest. She didnt die till 2009 over 2 years after she forfeited her lockers. Noone tried to track her down or new who she was while she was still alive?.

10 bucks they tracked her down within days but sit on the info to avoid having to share potential profit.

Alan Edward Klein · Nov 4, 2021

awty said:
I can distinguish between fact and fantasy,
"This story began in 2007 with John Maloof, a twenty-five-year-old real-estate agent, who, at a blind auction, bought tens of thousands of negatives, and quickly realized they had a lot of potential — especially when Allan Sekula bought a few prints and suggested that he should not post this work on Flickr".

Her stuff was changing hands before Maloof got his hands on anything, he was certainly not the first to profit from her pictures, he was just more clever than the rest. She didnt die till 2009 over 2 years after she forfeited her lockers. Noone tried to track her down or new who she was while she was still alive?

This is the authors first book, "Ann Marks is a retired New York business executive with a passion for genealogical research and mystery",...... perfect for the romantic.

She died so soon, she never would have benefitted from any deals had they been made. In fact, the business aggravation may have killed her sooner. It wasn't meant to be. She apparently loved what she did as a photographer and got a lot of enjoyment out of it. Like most of us, we also will never see a dime's worth of profit from our hobby. There are other rewards besides financial.

MattKing · Nov 4, 2021

Alan Edward Klein said:
Do you mean I have to become a nanny to become famous?

From what we know of you Alan, if you became a nanny, you would become famous here.

MattKing · Nov 4, 2021

michael_r said:
I just wanted to say there are certainly artists and musicians who did/have done "left turns" mid-career with amazing results.

Bob Dylan comes to mind.

Andrew O'Neill · Nov 4, 2021

It's a pity that she didn't get the recognition she deserved whilst still alive.... I do like some of her work. There's so much of it and I've seen so little.

Pieter12 · Nov 4, 2021

awty said:
I can distinguish between fact and fantasy,

Really? And the fantasy here is?

Two of the boys that Maier raised did track her down but they didn't do anything to help disseminate her work. She worked for several well-to-do families who could have been of assistance had she wanted to have her photos seen. She may have had worsening mental problems, but she did forfeit the contents of her storage locker, without extracting her negatives or unprocessed film. The fact that Mr Maloof was able to market her work successfully seems to bother you for some reason. And you downplay the author's credibility because this is her first book...what are your credentials in this field? Do you have an axe to grind here?

Pioneer · Nov 4, 2021

I enjoy looking at photographs, Ms Maier's included. As a result the great majority of my book purchases are collections of various photographer's work. In addition to many, many other artists I have several books of Vivian Maier's work and I enjoy it very much. I do wish she were still alive or at least had received recognition when she was alive. In my humble opinion her work is good enough that it stands on its own and she deserves all the recognition she can get for her unique vision.

I tend to chuckle whenever I read someone else's opinion of what her various psychoses may have been. From what I read of other photographers it almost seems as if normality, whatever that really is, is not all that common among artists. I do feel that becoming really, really good at something does require some amount of obsession on the part of the person involved.

My opinions of John Maloof and others who seem to have profited from their early purchase of her film and prints are mixed. First off, making any kind of living by purchasing and reselling abandoned storage locker contents seems to me to be a very speculative activity at best. It is certainly not something I am interested in doing. I am thrilled that they recognized what they had, however that actually came about, and began presenting it to the public for sale. I am not so thrilled that they seem to have profited so handsomely from someone else's work. However, that being said, people exploit and profit from other people's work all the time in many, many professions. It seems to be part of the human condition that there are sheep and there are predators.

For my part I will continue to enjoy her work wherever and whenever I can. I sincerely hope that Chicago is able to sort the mess out but since it appears that they have so many messes to work on it will likely take some time.

doughowk · Nov 4, 2021

I requested our local library purchase a copy. Most photographers are far less interesting than their subject matter. So I also prefer collections vs biography, but it may be fun to speculate on her neuroses ;-)

Pieter12 · Nov 4, 2021

doughowk said:
I requested our local library purchase a copy. Most photographers are far less interesting than their subject matter. So I also prefer collections vs biography, but it may be fun to speculate on her neuroses ;-)

I think a number of female photographers have interesting stories. Maybe because they are in the minority and have more obstacles to overcome for acceptance in the medium. Diane Arbus and Berenice Abbott for example.

Pioneer · Nov 4, 2021

Pieter12 said:
I think a number of female photographers have interesting stories. Maybe because they are in the minority and have more obstacles to overcome for acceptance in the medium. Diane Arbus and Berenice Abbott for example.

I enjoy biographies in general and read a lot of them but I agree on the photographer biographies. I have read Dorothea Lange's, Berenice Abbott's and am working on the one that was put out a bit ago on Vivian Maier. So far it is pretty good.

However if I had to recommend a very good read regarding photography it would have to be ~~Sally Mark's~~ Sally Mann's "Hold Still." I thought that was the best I've read in a long time.
(Moderator's note - corrected typo in author's name)

MattKing · Nov 4, 2021

Pioneer said:
However if I had to recommend a very good read regarding photography it would have to be ~~Sally Mark's~~ "Hold Still."

Fixed that for you .

More Vivian Maier

Deleted member 88956

Deleted member 88956

Deleted member 88956

Moderator

Moderator

Moderator

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency