Saturday 4 February 2017

FINDING VIVIAN MAIER


Do you like photography? I do. A few days ago I went to Rome to see a photographic show. I liked it a lot and I'd like to tell you about the photographer's story and to share some of her images with you.


Vivian Maier (February 1, 1926 – April 21, 2009) was an American photographer, but it wasn't her job... it was just a hobby. Vivian was a nanny and she used to be a street photographer only in her spare time.
She took more than 150,000 photographs during her lifetime, primarily of the people and architecture of New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles but she never developed them.

In the same years, the Irish rock band U2 released them famous song “Where the streets have no name”.
The show I saw in Rome is called "Vivian Maier, Where streets have no name" because in this song the rock band describe the 90' society and Vivian was photographing it in the same years.


Unfortunately she died two years after that her shots were found in a box in the city of Chicago and she would never know that she would become famous and be considered one of the most important 90s street photographers.
Most of her staggering number of images have yet to be made public. In mathematical terms, she exposed about 12 frames, or one roll of medium format film per day, every day for about 40 years. Only a few hundred images taken by Vivian Maier are currently known and we can see them in exhibitions and books.



She liked photographing people from behind.


 


She immortalized people's expressions and people that were doing their everyday activities.



Vivian wanted to photograph all, without differences or prejudices.





 

She used to photograph herself reflected in mirrors and she had always the same expression: a serious face and deep eyes.




The exhibition in Rome is open until 5th March 2017.  For further info you can visit 

(photos by RICCARDO PELLICCIA)





 
When I saw those pictures I was very surprised for their perfection. The shadows are always perfect. I liked that they represented Americans with their everyday activities and hobbies.

 

Also a documentary called “Finding Vivian Maier” was made in her honour to tell her singular story. If you are interested in photography or you are simply fascinated by her story, you should see it. It's very interesting. You can find it both in Italian and in English.


"She photographed everything. She looked around and if she liked something, she opened her camera. She loved reality, poor people, someone that was crying..."

What about you? Do you like her photos? Have  you ever heard of this talented woman before? Looking forward to your comments.


                                                                                                               
Benedetta aka Benny

BENNY

16 comments:

  1. Great job Benny😍 I love photography. Thanks to it you can capture a moment forever. I never heard about this wonderful woman,but I love her photos!

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    1. Thank you Rosita! I agree with you... and yes.. her photoes are very beautiful

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  2. Well done Benny! I heard about this photographer's story! It is a beautiful story! I love her photographs!❤

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    1. Probably I have told you something at school, Elisa! Thank you so much <3

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  3. Good job Benny❤
    I love her photos and photography in general!😍

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  4. Good job Benny❤
    I love her photos and photography in general!😍

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  5. I have never heard about her and I don't like photography in general, anyway good job Benny😙

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    1. Thank you Fede. I am sorry that you don't like photographt.. I hope that you found it more interesting thanks to my post!

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  6. I have never heard about her and I don't like photography in general, anyway good job Benny😙

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  7. Well done Benny1
    I don't love photography..so I like watching photos but I'm not interesting at all..
    Thank you for having shared with us something you did and loved <3

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  8. Amazing post Benny!!!
    I love photography but I am not very good at it.

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    1. Thanks, Eugenio! I may teach you something, if you enjoy!

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  9. I love photography and my sister is very good at it. Infact when we go to visit new places with our family, she always take good photo. 📸

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    1. Your sister is very good, GB! I always make a lot of photos, too! I LOVE it!!!

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