I remember the day just a few years ago that I discovered her. As a photographer, for me, she went from zero to hero over the course of 90 minutes. Actually, many have had a similar experience. Even highly respected and renowned professional photographers. You see, were it not for the fact that her "worthless" rolls of negatives fell into the right hands by means of a storage locker sale no one would know her to this day!
Please Also See These Reviews of my Other Favorite Monochrome Photographers
The Old Dog Presents: Monochrome Master. The Great Edward S. Curtis
The Old Dog Presents: Monochrome Master No.2 The Spectacular Frank Hurley
The mysterious Vivian Meir was born on February 1, 1926 in New York City and she died on April 21, 2009 in Chicago Illinois. For about 40 years she worked as a professional nanny for various families. This allowed her the freedom that she craved because as she took the children under he care on strolls and to parks she snapped an incredible number of photographs.
Her biggest passion was street photography and by using a Rolleiflex camera which is held at waist height she was able to remain inconspicuous while at the same time shooting from a low angle which adds a lot of drama to her photographs.
One of Vivian Maier's many self portraits shot with one of her Rolleiflex cameras. Check out the others which are incredibly creative and artistic! Photo credit
How I discovered Vivian Meir
A few years back I was looking for an interesting documentary to watch and I came across the 2013 film "Finding Vivian Maier" Please have a look at the short trailer below. I'm convinced that you'll find it fascinating!
"This intriguing documentary shuttles from New York to France to Chicago as it traces the life story of the late Vivien Maier, a career nanny whose previously unknown cache of 100,000 photographs has earned her a posthumous reputation as one of America's most accomplished and insightful street photographers." Tiff Originals
This BBC Documentary Calls Her One of The Most Intriguing Photographers of The 20th Century!
"She was a poet of suburbia, a secret street photographer before the term was really invented." BBC Imagine Vivian Maier.
Quick Facts About Vivian Meir
- Over the course of her life she took about 150,000 photographs!
- While most of her photos were taken in Chicago and New York City from 1959-1960 she traveled around the world taking pictures in Los Angeles, Manila, Bangkok, Shanghai, Beijing, India, Egypt and Italy.
- Maier once worked as a house keeper for the talk show host Phil Donahue.
- Throughout her life she presented herself with various personas and accents. I know, I know artists are often a strange breed but we love them!
- Her life's work was discovered by accident in storage lockers in Chicago!
- John Maloof owns the majority of her work which consists of between 100-150,000 negatives, over 3,000 prints, hundreds of rolls of film, home movies, audio interviews and various other items.
Please Take The Time to Look at Her Portfolio
I am sure that you'll be amazed as you explore the work of this photographer. Luckily for us John Maloof has done a wonderful job showcasing it in exhibitions around the world and there are extensive examples of her work in very high quality at his web site here! Even I was blessed to see an exhibition of her photos in the small town of Chiasso Switzerland which is near my home!
Here Are Just a Few More Examples!
I grabbed these examples from the web site but believe me one is better then the next. Take a look and see for yourself!
Words cannot describe how much I love the work of Vivian Maier!
What About You?
- Had you already heard of Vivian Maier?
- Have you seen the documentary film "Finding Vivian Maier?
- Are you a fan of black and white photography?
Don't forget to support @old-guy-photos one of our great Steemians and the man behind Monochrome Monday!
I hope that you enjoyed this article "Monochrome Master No.3 The Mysterious Vivian Maier!"
Until next time,
@kus-knee (The Old Dog)
Sorry for my late responses on this article, when I tried to reply this post, I got an issue as Bandwidth limit exceed! So, had no chance to reply this post at that time!
I checked her photography! Sorry I didn't watch the video coz I got limited data connection!
She made amazing collection of photography in BW color theme! Those are very natural photo shots of people, so it's so brilliant! Not all photographers are trying this concept! Coz, it's hard to capture, and precious!
Now I am going to answer the 3 questions you asked here:@kus-knee,
Thank you very much for sharing such wonderful review with us! Appreciate your effort as well!
Cheers~
Thanks so. I hope for taking the time to get involved in the covnversatiom here. Vivian Mier will become more and more known as they continue to go through her rich archive of photos.
Actually her photography are very rich!@kus-knee,
Cheers~
Thanks for presenting such a great post of the great American photographer .Yes black and white color are the most beautiful colors of the world and it has a beautiful originality.
Indeed, these pictures are absolutely gorgeous and inspiring. It shows that she was not only hard working and dedicated but also an extremely talented individual. Now I want to look her up and see all her photos! Although there are too many.
Yes there are so many. The website that I listed has some of her portfolio!
I appreciate you having a look!
It's my heartest pleasure to meet you friend. Thanks for the great supports and love, stay blessed and happy every day.
I have never heard of Vivian Maier until now!! But after seeing your post I love her photography!!
The documentary is also very interesting.
Incredible, just incredible. Can we imagine that this amazing and huge work coulded remain undiscovered?! Her photos are so deep and real, what a clear and true passion she put on it!
I personally never heard of her before, and I'm glad I did.
Yes she was a great discovery!
Thanks for this inspiring documentary, i think she was a great photographer, because she could capture the emotions behind the models, what i think is the most important, if you shoot persons , i love it
Thanks so much for having a look and leaving your previous comment!
excellent work dear friend @ kus-knee, I like photography very much, but I never had the opportunity to buy a professional camera, I think this year I will fulfill my dreams.
I really have to admit that I never heard of Vivian Maier, but I have no doubt that it is a great professional, the images to if they show it
thank you very much for sharing this great job
I wish you a wonderful evening
Thanks so much. You are doing so well here on Steemit without a professional camera but I'm sure that having one will open an even bigger world to you!
I remember wanting to watch the documentary when it came out but never had the chance to. Thanks for reminding me of it again. Her story is fascinating.
I’m sure that you’ll enjoy it!
I just found that my library has the documentary! I will watch it soon :)
I watched it yesterday and it was different from what I expected. I found the documentary riveting. She was a complex woman and misunderstood I think. Nobody will know what really went on in her mind but the self portraits were very interesting. The comments from her former employers and the children she took care of were sometimes disturbing. There is no doubt she was a super talented street photographer. Her portraits of people are mesmorising.
Thanks for sharing about Vivian Maier quite interesting that was to know and see and yeah who don't love monochrome photos they looks incredible
It really is a joy to see her work!
Never heard about her, I will watch the documentary because I love B&W pictures!
Like always...well done, great post!
Thanks a lot!
semplicemente fantastica...
As one of Steemit's great photographers I knew that you would enjoy her work!
OH YAY! I love to see the Old Dog in the tag!
This is a very cool coincidence! I had never known of her until this very week when I started the reflection challenge by @ilovedietcoke. She saw my first post which was a reflection selfie and turned me on to Vivian Meir! I learn so much and totally enjoy Steemit for these very reasons!
You made a good discovery. Lots of talent and mystique!
Great post, Love the work of Vivian. Also referred to the documentary about her in my latest post as a must see for all photographers!
What a fascinating story her's is!
A very interesting photographer indeed, and I'm glad that her photos got noticed. There is something interesting about photos from that era anyway. I'm a fan of B&W, but I've never heard of her until now.
Thanks @kus-knee!
Thanks for the visit @papa-pepper!
You know I get around every once in a while!
Yeah! I'm a fan of photography, so it's really hard to pass by a famous name I haven't seen, and this is one of them.
Fantastico documentario... visto qualche anno fa ;-)
Fotografie pazzesche!
Sono un fanatico di documentari... se hai bisogno di suggerimenti, avvisami ;-)
Saluti
Lucas
P.S. did you see "Searching for Sugar Man" e "Exit Through The Gift Shop"? te li consiglio ;-)
Si ho visto tutte e due! Raramente guardo i film di Hollywood perché voglio sempre imparare.
Altro consiglio... IDFA, documentary film festival di Amsterdam... uno dei più grandi e importanti al mondo ;-)
... purtroppo è già passato... prossima edizione a novembre 2018
You are a wise mannequin!
Those are really amazing shots! I've never heard of her, so thanks for the introduction.
Yeah, artists... Very interesting breed. Let's just say not only the artists in the theatre are theatrical :P
So true!
I'm a violent fan of monochrome photography, so I studied biographies of great photographers. Vivian is genial in her simplicity and sincerity. I try to be a bit like these great people in my work
You have selected great mentors and it shows!
Nice post and awesome photography.
good news
thank you for sharing your experience. this is a lesson for me
And for me!
Hi kus-kne. It's been a while. I hope you're having a great day.
I like this photography... if I saw that story a couple of years ago, then I was WOW too.
your video is very good friend of mine. but I do not know because I am from Indonesia. but I really like it
@kus-knee thanks for sharing story of this unusual and great woman and artist. Heard of her over friend of mine photographer, her story is amazing, so as the photographs..She is true story of an true artist..
She is good! I've never seen her photos before.
You learn something new every day!)
really nice shot upvote an resteem
I did watch that documentary and love her work, too. Pretty amazing photos!
Wonderful your art, and i think any people like it . thank you so much carry on your life
Nic post
Very interesting american photographer indeed. Awesome looks b&w photography included here. Thanks for your effort @kus-knee.
excellent working! i like photography
Contes b n w...??
Beautiful portraits!!
Thanks for coming by @mariandavp!
What a great post. I feel like I knew her. You did a great job telling her story. Have a great week😊
Excellent pictures friend @kus-knee but I miss a picture to place that is one of the very good in its black and white tones .... that many musicians in the Steemit community admire and is one of the best bands of classic rock the best of the best The Beatles
Wow! She is an amazing photographer! I have never heard of her before. I have heard of Imogen Cunningham, though.
It is great to know this story of this great photographer.Nice photography
-cheers-
Fantastic photos thank you for sharing @ kus-knee
Awesome post! Now I know who he is thanks to you @kus-knee :)
Outstanding and nice post @kus-knee I would like to share my own photography with you https://steemit.com/photography/@irshadhussain/a-real-piece-of-paradise-on-land
There is something fascinating about photographs from that time at any rate. An extremely fascinating picture taker without a doubt, and I'm happy that her photographs got took note.
Thank you for the introduction to this great photographer. Indeed, her work is impressive. Beautiful portraits, full of feeling and sincerity. I realized that she was filmed secretly, without setting? Very lively work. I will definitely look at more of her work at Google.
Perhaps the art of photography was really a passion for Vivian Meir. Seeing the beautiful in everyday things is a great talent that is not given to every person!
Наверное искусство фотографии было действительно страстью для Вивиан Меир Видеть прекрасной в обыденных вещах - это большой талант, который даётся не каждому человеку!
Thanks for the dual language comment. I love to see that!
That is a lot of photos for someone to take
I love photography.... Well done sir.
what a gift that you have brought me in Vivian's work,
Her photography has a silver quality to them seemingly blending the b&w with the shere power of the emotionally honest portraits.
So grateful that you shared her work. I yearn for the days of roloiflex , and transparency cameras.
It looks like Richard Avedon might have been influenced by her in his early work?
Lynn
Great post,thank for sharing.
Great photographer i have seen many but he was extra ordinary
It seems to be good for people's life and work.
Really Great work! you have done