Amazing story about an amazing photographer

[tml]

I would love to see a show of examples of her work.

Tri

[dwilliams35]

Originally Posted by janikphoto

But, that's how PR works... If she would've wanted to show her work over the decades that she was shooting, she would've. Instead she hid everything away. She didn't offer us the chance to appreciate her work her lifetime. It just seems like "so much, so fast" right now, because they are opening the floodgates on a lifetime of work, instead of her slowly releasing new material over that lifetime. There's bound to be a "britney spears" sort of media explosion now.

That's a little different than I'm talking about: sure there would be a media explosion one way or another; I'd just tend to think that there would be a little more "appropriateness" if the whole collection was donated to a museum or something: I realize that's a stretch, as I've noted before: she was unknown before, and most museums wouldn't waste their time.. I realize he's put in the legwork here, and certainly deserves to get paid for his time.. The extent to which it's going is just a little on the exploitative side for me.

Just rambling, I guess, I just have a little distaste in my mouth for commercialization of such a thing: Sure, the museums would end up doing the same thing, but that's what they've got to do with everything in order to survive: That's not just one guy milking a lucky find for all it's worth, though.

[janikphoto]

Originally Posted by dwilliams35

That's a little different than I'm talking about: sure there would be a media explosion one way or another; I'd just tend to think that there would be a little more "appropriateness" if the whole collection was donated to a museum or something: I realize that's a stretch, as I've noted before: she was unknown before, and most museums wouldn't waste their time.. I realize he's put in the legwork here, and certainly deserves to get paid for his time.. The extent to which it's going is just a little on the exploitative side for me.

Just rambling, I guess, I just have a little distaste in my mouth for commercialization of such a thing: Sure, the museums would end up doing the same thing, but that's what they've got to do with everything in order to survive: That's not just one guy milking a lucky find for all it's worth, though.

Sure, I understand that point of view. It is very valid. I still don't mind having an individual try to take on this project. There are a lot of positive aspects that can come from it (such as he can put his whole heart into it, while many museums may not put enough time into the project of archiving and showing an unknown, having a million other projects to also manage)... and some negative (such as the experience and knowledge of how to do this in a safe and efficient manner). But, yes. You make a very solid point.

[Comanche]

Thanx, Leslie. I too had seen this on another forum and was floored by what I saw.

I have an old Yashica TLR that my wife now uses to decorate the house. Wonder if I can find some 220 B&W film . . . .

Seriously - it is very inspiring. I was shooting a basketball game last night. While talking to the reporter, I told him how bored I am - I need a project. Then I see this story.

[janikphoto]

120 and 220 film is still easy enough to get. Break out the camera, warm up the shutter springs with a few test clicks and then start taking pics!

[Comanche]

Originally Posted by janikphoto

120 and 220 film is still easy enough to get. Break out the camera, warm up the shutter springs with a few test clicks and then start taking pics!

Its tempting! I used to have my own darkroom setup, but that all went out the door a few years ago. That's a major part of the fun when you shoot B&W.

To get back on topic, she doesn't seem to have tried to hide her photography from her subjects. Many of the well known street photographers used a Leica so they would be unobtrusive, but its hard to hide a big 2 1/4 square.

Remarkable body of work.

[Linda Bingham]

Thank you for sharing the story. What an amazing photographer I am inspired to start looking for her works.

[ChristopherCoy]

What makes her work so special? And if she wouldn't have hid it away, would there still be the buzz about it? Is her work 'amazing' because everyone else thinks that its cool that it was hidden away, and bought by some aspiring photographer in an estate auction? Why is it amazing?

[janikphoto]

Originally Posted by ChristopherCoy

What makes her work so special? And if she wouldn't have hid it away, would there still be the buzz about it? Is her work 'amazing' because everyone else thinks that its cool that it was hidden away, and bought by some aspiring photographer in an estate auction? Why is it amazing?

Obviously, you don't care for her work so much. Either that, or you are just playing devil's advocate, but really like it. I think it is great work, all on its own. The backstory is just a bonus. I think it's a mix of Henri Cartier Bresson and Margaret Bourke-White. Some people may not like their work, either - because, photography is very subjective. However, most people consider them to be masters of the art form and legends of their era. And, most people are amazed by Vivian's photos, simply because they are great.

[JohnT]

If someone doesn't care much for street photography, they aren't going to like her work or find anything special about it. Nothing wrong with that of course. We all have our likes and dislikes in the craft.

[Joe_Lorenzini]

Originally Posted by ChristopherCoy

What makes her work so special?

Go out and try it.

I know it's a different world now but try and capture life today the way she was able to.

And my opinion is that back then people would look at it and shrug it off as just life happening but today it's history, culture and look into a world we have no connection to anymore yet can appreciate.

Joe

[ChristopherCoy]

Originally Posted by janikphoto

Obviously, you don't care for her work so much. Either that, or you are just playing devil's advocate, but really like it.

Well thanks for putting words in my mouth.

On the contrary, I liked her photographs. Most of the ones featured made you think about the story behind it. More than once I caught myself thinking WOW, and then having to return to the video. I admit I know nothing of 'street photography', couldn't shoot a pj story with an instruction manual, and dont know who the 'who's' are in the field, but her's were nice.

I just want to know why her's are so special, and if they hadn't been discovered in the manner in which they were, would there be such a buzz?

[Comanche]

Originally Posted by ChristopherCoy

What makes her work so special? And if she wouldn't have hid it away, would there still be the buzz about it? Is her work 'amazing' because everyone else thinks that its cool that it was hidden away, and bought by some aspiring photographer in an estate auction? Why is it amazing?

Excellent question - in fact, I wish this question were asked more often. Like Jason, I don't know if you are playing devil's advocate or if you just don't like the genre itself - but in either case, I'm glad you asked. I will try to tell you why I like it.

I like photos of people as they are - as they live life. Many people on this forum make their living taking studio portraits. That is not something I care about, though it's certainly a legitimate form of photography. I gravitate towards photojournalism - capturing the world as it is.

Her photos are evocative - they create emotion - the kind of "ooh" and "ahh" of recognizing something similar in our own lives. There is one shot (on the blog) shot tight of a couple holding hands - but from behind the subjects. That violates one of the basics I've been taught (get the face), yet seeing a middle-aged couple holdings hands struck me emotionally. We seldom see couples holding hands. Others of down-and-out people strike a similar chord. She saw things - such as the gentleman asleep in the front seat of his car - that may bring back a remembrance of the cross-country we took once, and slept on the side of the road. Emotions.

The photos serve as a documentary as well. I can see the hard scrabble life of Chicago that won't be found otherwise. That's the photojournalism side of me - I see stories in the photos.

I also prefer her B&W works - there is something that says "serious" in a high contrast B&W print. When I did a book of the final years of my mother's life, filled with images of her Alzheimer's, I chose to do it in B&W. Its punchy.

There are some similar threads on this forum seeing people in their environment. One is a shooter from Singapore "Every Day People." Another - a Leica shooter whose name I can't remember, posted some great shots from Turkey. I've been tolerated by the folks on the photojournalism section when I've posted this type of photo from Viet Nam, such as this one about a market.

But - "street photography" is a dying art in America - not because of lack of skill, but rather that our litigious society frowns on people photography. Once, while doing a "compare and contrast" story about American supermarkets and Vietnamese markets, I was told by the manager at an HEB to stop taking photos, a situation I never encountered overseas. Back in Vivian's day, she could do it - and she used a big ol' TLR, not a stealthy Leica.

So - yes, I think her's is a remarkable body of work - and I'm looking forward to seeing how she captured places like Thailand and Viet Nam.

[iCe]

Nice find L!

Originally Posted by Joe_Lorenzini

Personally I have no problem with the owner in fact, I hope he gets rich. Which one of us would pay $400 for a box of old negatives? I doubt I would have and then when he looked at them he found the other buyers and bought the negatives off them. It not only shows he knew what he had but also showed recognition to keeping something special together as the artist most likely intended.

Kudos to him, it's a wonderful thing he's doing and to know he's willing to put in the work instead of having some gallery do it and have him reap profits from it says even more.

We've seen stuff like this before. What about that guy who thought he had some long lost Ansel Adam's negatives that the "experts" confirmed, and he was ready to get rich off of only to find out they were someone's uncle's (which is what I believe the experts turned into - grin)...

Bring on the photos, books and exhibitions. When they get to Amon Carter I'm all over it!

Joe

Ditto... I'm just glad her work is being promoted.

[dmora]

Originally Posted by Comanche

Excellent question - in fact, I wish this question were asked more often. Like Jason, I don't know if you are playing devil's advocate or if you just don't like the genre itself - but in either case, I'm glad you asked. I will try to tell you why I like it.

I like photos of people as they are - as they live life. Many people on this forum make their living taking studio portraits. That is not something I care about, though it's certainly a legitimate form of photography. I gravitate towards photojournalism - capturing the world as it is.

Her photos are evocative - they create emotion - the kind of "ooh" and "ahh" of recognizing something similar in our own lives. There is one shot (on the blog) shot tight of a couple holding hands - but from behind the subjects. That violates one of the basics I've been taught (get the face), yet seeing a middle-aged couple holdings hands struck me emotionally. We seldom see couples holding hands. Others of down-and-out people strike a similar chord. She saw things - such as the gentleman asleep in the front seat of his car - that may bring back a remembrance of the cross-country we took once, and slept on the side of the road. Emotions.

The photos serve as a documentary as well. I can see the hard scrabble life of Chicago that won't be found otherwise. That's the photojournalism side of me - I see stories in the photos.

I also prefer her B&W works - there is something that says "serious" in a high contrast B&W print. When I did a book of the final years of my mother's life, filled with images of her Alzheimer's, I chose to do it in B&W. Its punchy.

There are some similar threads on this forum seeing people in their environment. One is a shooter from Singapore "Every Day People." Another - a Leica shooter whose name I can't remember, posted some great shots from Turkey. I've been tolerated by the folks on the photojournalism section when I've posted this type of photo from Viet Nam, such as this one about a market.

But - "street photography" is a dying art in America - not because of lack of skill, but rather that our litigious society frowns on people photography. Once, while doing a "compare and contrast" story about American supermarkets and Vietnamese markets, I was told by the manager at an HEB to stop taking photos, a situation I never encountered overseas. Back in Vivian's day, she could do it - and she used a big ol' TLR, not a stealthy Leica.

So - yes, I think her's is a remarkable body of work - and I'm looking forward to seeing how she captured places like Thailand and Viet Nam.

Vieri Bottazzini.
I had the pleasure of visiting him in Istanbul. What an awesome guy!
Vieri Bottazzini Photographer