Vivian Maier and her photography

[Sirius Glass]

This thread is about Vivian Maier and her photography and her photography. Not the legal issues. Not the opinions of what Mr. Maloof did, did not, should have, should have not done. Only about her photography. No discussion of politics will be tolerated.

Talk about her photography, its merits, what she did, what she could have done better.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I show her work to my high school photo students when I talk about street photography. I'm glad she was discovered as more female photographers' work needs to be celebrated. The students (mainly female) love her story.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I show her work to my high school photo students when I talk about street photography. I'm glad she was discovered as more female photographers' work needs to be celebrated. The students (mainly female) love her story.

Hopefully as this thread stay healthy, more women will be attracted to contribute.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

This thread is about Vivian Maier and her photography and her photography. Not the legal issues. Not the opinions of what Mr. Maloof did, did not, should have, should have not done. Only about her photography. No discussion of politics will be tolerated.

Talk about her photography, its merits, what she did, what she could have done better.

I wish you luck. Just the first reply draws irks already (referencing "her story", which nobody knows which part is true, which is not). But I won't try to stir this up from my end. There is something called pot full to the brim. Takes just a drop to overflow. Vivian Maier needs some rest before it can be healthily discussed.

 

[faberryman]

The Vivian Maier website has a large selection of her images.

http://www.vivianmaier.com/

 

[Arthurwg]

I wish you luck. Just the first reply draws irks already (referencing "her story", which nobody knows which part is true, which is not). /QUOTE]


This holds true for most and maybe all stories, not just hers. Nobody knows. But we do have the photographs and they are what matters.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Back to her photographs please.

 

[Duceman]

With film manufacturing having gone through the doldrums in the past 15 years or so, there was, as exists today, many a discussion on how to treat expired film. There's even an ongoing thread right now of someone wondering how to best develop TMY shot back in 2006. And then we have Vivian Maier, who didn't develop the vast majority of her shots; they only being developed relatively recently (and maybe still ongoing). I recall when I first heard about this seeing all the of unexposed rolls of film, and how it was being catalogued and such before developing. I don't recall who was doing the developing. But I do find it interesting that they have been able to perform the developing DECADES after the fact, wherein I would have to imagine the film was not stored--at least not always--under ideal conditions. The images I've seen (and granted, I do not know if these were developed long ago or relatively recently) show no signs of fogging or other issues one would expect with film that has been sitting around for so long. Does anyone know what special procedures, if any, were taken in more developing?

 

[Duceman]

Back to her photographs please.

Which ones in particular?

 

[Sirius Glass]

Pick the one or ones you would like to discuss.

 

[faberryman]

With film manufacturing having gone through the doldrums in the past 15 years or so, there was, as exists today, many a discussion on how to treat expired film. There's even an ongoing thread right now of someone wondering how to best develop TMY shot back in 2006. And then we have Vivian Maier, who didn't develop the vast majority of her shots; they only being developed relatively recently (and maybe still ongoing). I recall when I first heard about this seeing all the of unexposed rolls of film, and how it was being catalogued and such before developing. I don't recall who was doing the developing. But I do find it interesting that they have been able to perform the developing DECADES after the fact, wherein I would have to imagine the film was not stored--at least not always--under ideal conditions. The images I've seen (and granted, I do not know if these were developed long ago or relatively recently) show no signs of fogging or other issues one would expect with film that has been sitting around for so long. Does anyone know what special procedures, if any, were taken in more developing?

This from the FAQ on the Vivian Maier website:

There were about 2,000 undeveloped black & white rolls which we processed and scanned. They were processed by professional archivists. The chemistry and developing times had to be figured out for these old rolls. The results were mostly very successful. However, due to the aging and conditions these were stored for decades, fogging was an issue for a small number of rolls.

There are around 700 rolls of color Ektachrome 35mm film that we have not yet processed. This film is stored in a refrigerator until it will be developed.

I do not know the date of the FAQ or the current status of the 35mm Ektachrome rolls.

 

[Pioneer]

I am curious. I find much of her Chicago photography taken later on in her life to be more interesting and more compelling but I read a Biography written by Pamela Bannos and the writer appears to be more impressed with Ms Maier's earlier work in New York and France. Does anyone else have any opinions of their own and, if so, do you find all of her work photographically interesting or just parts of it? Or, of course, maybe none of it.

 

[warden]

I do not know the date of the FAQ or the current status of the 35mm Ektachrome rolls.

Talk about some pressure. You don't want to screw up those rolls of Ektachrome.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

 

[doughowk]

I'm still waiting to get a copy of Marks' book; and maybe she answers my question; but I wonder who influenced Ms Maier? Her frequent use of medium format cameras would seem to preclude photographers like Joel Meyorwitz, Bruce Gilden, Gary Winogrand or even Cartier-Bresson. So who does she most resemble [or influenced by] in the pantheon of street photography?

 

[mohmad khatab]

This picture represents me.
This picture is killing me.
This picture will stop before history for a long time.
that is my point of view .
I can't find words to describe my feelings for that great picture.
I think that it is unfair to call it (Sour) I think it is a creative work of human genius and instinct..
I really don't know what to say
My brother (Mr. Glass) “OP” You deserve all the respect and appreciation for opening this wonderful topic,,
Indeed, whenever the genius artist (Vivien Mayer) is mentioned, the conversation turns to other commercial matters that have nothing to do with art.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart that you insisted on speaking only on the artistic side.
Greetings to you from Egypt.

 

[Nitroplait]

She started producing strong work with a unique vison already in the early-mid 50's, which limits the number of "usual suspects" that could have inspired her. Even "Family of Man" - which was inspirational to many photographers - didn't start its touring until late 1955, a time where we already see strong work from VM.
The most comparable photographer in my eyes is Elliott Erwitt. See the cover of Home Around the World for example. A lot of photos from Erwitt's Pittsbourgh 1950 shares sensibility with the young Vivian Maier.
However it is not likely that Erwitt was an early influence. The Pittsbourgh work was comissioned by Roy Stryker in 1948-9 when Erwitt was only 22 years old, but wasn't published until 2017 - and Erwitt spend some years "hidden" in the army immediately following the Pittsbourgh assignment. I don't think Erwitt became a publicly visible photographer until after the mid 50's (but I could be wrong).
But anyway; I have recently purchased 3 Erwitt books; Home Around the World, Pittsbourgh 1950 and Found Not Lost and I think many photographs projects a similar sensibility to what I see in Vivian Maiers work.

 

[macfred]

I am curious. I find much of her Chicago photography taken later on in her life to be more interesting and more compelling but I read a Biography written by Pamela Bannos and the writer appears to be more impressed with Ms Maier's earlier work in New York and France. Does anyone else have any opinions of their own and, if so, do you find all of her work photographically interesting or just parts of it? Or, of course, maybe none of it.

I still have fond memories of the exhibition at the Kunst- und Kulturzentrum (KuK) in Monschau / GER in 2015. There were also some photographs from her world tour in 1960. A shepherd's idyll with a boy playing the flute and pictures of the Acropolis (both Greece) have remained in my positive memory, along with pictures from Egypt. These photographs had a quality all of their own and radiated a strong ''joie de vivre'' and a feeling of freedom for me - something I did not feel in this form in other of her photographs (e.g. from New York or Chicago).
Unfortunately I cannot find any of these photos in the www. The quality and finish of the prints was remarkable.

 

[Don_ih]

She may have seen work by Paul Strand - that could have been inspirational. It's also possible that her using a camera in the street grew naturally out of an initial interest in photography and a lack of subjects. To get around that, she may have gone looking for interesting photos.
She lived in cities and could have seen any number of small or large gallery shows. She took a photo of Dali in front of MOMA - so she was obviously there. Also, something to notice about that: she was forward enough to ask for the photo. A lot of comments suggest that, because of the waist-level finder, she was essentially invisible while taking her photos - or because she was a woman she went unnoticed. I think she was quite a bit more in charge of what she was doing than that. You don't get such good close photos by being a wallflower.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

With film manufacturing having gone through the doldrums in the past 15 years or so, there was, as exists today, many a discussion on how to treat expired film. There's even an ongoing thread right now of someone wondering how to best develop TMY shot back in 2006. And then we have Vivian Maier, who didn't develop the vast majority of her shots; they only being developed relatively recently (and maybe still ongoing). I recall when I first heard about this seeing all the of unexposed rolls of film, and how it was being catalogued and such before developing. I don't recall who was doing the developing. But I do find it interesting that they have been able to perform the developing DECADES after the fact, wherein I would have to imagine the film was not stored--at least not always--under ideal conditions. The images I've seen (and granted, I do not know if these were developed long ago or relatively recently) show no signs of fogging or other issues one would expect with film that has been sitting around for so long. Does anyone know what special procedures, if any, were taken in more developing?

Whoever did the developing and printing did a fine job. Her shots of Paris and USA streets make for an interesting mix.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

She may have seen work by Paul Strand - that could have been inspirational. It's also possible that her using a camera in the street grew naturally out of an initial interest in photography and a lack of subjects. To get around that, she may have gone looking for interesting photos.
She lived in cities and could have seen any number of small or large gallery shows. She took a photo of Dali in front of MOMA - so she was obviously there. Also, something to notice about that: she was forward enough to ask for the photo. A lot of comments suggest that, because of the waist-level finder, she was essentially invisible while taking her photos - or because she was a woman she went unnoticed. I think she was quite a bit more in charge of what she was doing than that. You don't get such good close photos by being a wallflower.

Being a woman might have help her especially with people like Dali.

Additionally, whoever they shoot, women are less threatening, especially with children.

 

[Pieter12]

I do like much of Ms Maiers work. About her influences, who knows? Did she ever look at anyone's work, or was she just inspired by her own vision. It is not necessary to be consciously derivative or influenced by another artist, one can develop on their own. A lot of what we think we know of anyone's work or life is not necessarily accurate. Many photographers control their public and private lives very closely.

 

[weizenkeim]

Yes she is over hyped but it’s a work which shows some good ideas and is consistent in its photographic quality and technical execution, both better than the average street photo in today’s online photo forums. And she was capable doing that with a TLR. And who else did street photography at her time, wasn’t this a very modern thing (except the camera which for street photography would normally had to be a Leica)? But the work is not exceptional compared with the established masters)

I like to think of her as maybe a symbol for the many unknown talented amateur photographer’s there were; who were ambitious but couldn’t show their work in public. The story (why not believe it?) just adds to this thought.

 

[Arthurwg]

I think street photography is often a waste of time unless you're HCB. . Most street photos earn a passing glance if anything. Ms. Me Maiers pictures are an exception.

 

[Pieter12]

I think street photography is often a waste of time unless you're HCB

Whose time? Yours or the photographers? And why single out HCB? Much of his street photography was just as mediocre as any. He didn't invent the idea, but doggedly pursued the intent to capture a great composition candidly, on the fly. There are many since who have done it as well and probably technically better.

HCB was first and foremost a photojournalist, in the days when there wasn't a bloated surplus of decent photographers and a good photo did not necessarily have to be newsworthy or topical to get published. Vivian Maier was an unknown amateur who did not seem to seek to be published. That does not reflect on her work, with the exception that the lack of opportunity to practice her passion with some financial help might have lead her to be known or branch out into other genres. Who knows what she might have done as a professional? Maybe even stopped shooting in the street.