Vivian Maier: Out Of The Shadows (2012)

Book Info

Author

Richard Cahan

Genre

History & Biography

Rating

4.49 of 5 Votes: 2

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ISBN

0978545095 (ISBN13: 9780978545093)

Language

English

Publisher

CityFiles Press

Shops

Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble

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About book Vivian Maier: Out Of The Shadows (2012)

Vivian Maier left behind about 2000 undeveloped rolls of black and white film, plus thousands of negatives and slides. Born in New York City and raised in the French Alps, Vivian returned to the US as a teen. She began taking photographs of everyday people, objects and locations using an old Rolleiflex camera, and supported herself through work as a child caregiver and domestic. After her death in 2009, boxes of her work were auctioned off and word spread quickly on the Internet of this remarkable find. Cahan and Williams have compiled a selection of her photographs with a narrative of her life and times. I first heard about the discovery of these unprocessed films a few years ago and was excited to see her works. However, after completing this book, my net response to the experience is negative and a little depressed. It seems she lived with almost no attachments and died alone. Her photos reveal a great talent for composition and value, and provide the viewer with glimpses of everyday life on the street during her adult life. But also reinforce the sense of Maier's self imposed isolation.