Maier's Technique and Eye for Composition

Maier’s technique set her apart, characterized by her unique approach to street photography:

• Low-angle shots from the waist, allow for natural, candid and authentic moments.

• A focus on intense emotions across the spectrum, from joy to sorrow.

• Her style was both bold and compassionate, as she captured people in their most unguarded states.

• She preferred black-and-white film, especially Kodak Tri-X, which enhanced the timeless quality of her images.

• Similarly to Bruce Davidson, Vivian Maier was fearless on streets

If you want to learn how to become a great photographer, make sure to check out these excellent online photo courses.

Which film stock did Vivian Maier use?

She mainly shot black and white films. Usually Kodak Tri-X.

Vivian Maier’s photo book

For those looking to experience Maier’s work firsthand, Vivian Maier: Street Photographer it features many beautiful street portraits and street photography.

• Features some of Maier’s most iconic images captured in New York City, Chicago, and beyond.

• The book highlights Maier’s ability to capture everyday life, portraying strangers with empathy and an eye for storytelling.

• It serves as both a biography and a showcase, providing insight into Maier’s vision and technique as a street photographer.

• Vivian Maier: Street Photographer reveals her unique approach, using angles, compositions, and candid moments that distinguish her in the world of photography.

This book is a testament to her posthumous fame, illustrating why she is now celebrated as one of the 20th century’s most influential street photographers. It’s a must-read for photographers looking to understand the subtleties of capturing genuine human moments. Get the book on Amazon.

Also, watch how Robert Frank took his photos & Joel Meyerowitz’s street photography course. I also converted how Henri Cartier Bresson takes his photographs in my series about the greatest photographers of our times from street photographers to documentary photographers.

About Vivian Maier

Vivian Maier was an enigmatic figure in the world of photography, a woman whose work was only discovered after her death. Born in New York City in 1926, Maier spent much of her life working as a nanny and caretaker for families throughout the United States. However, it was her passion for photography that would define her legacy.

Maier was an incredibly private person, often keeping her photography hidden away in boxes and storage units. She worked mostly in black and white, capturing candid moments on the streets of cities like New York and Chicago. Her images are raw and unfiltered, revealing a unique perspective on life in America during the mid-20th century.

The Hidden Treasure of Vivian Maier’s Work

The story of how Maier's work was discovered is as fascinating as her photographs:

• Born in New York in 1926, she worked primarily as a nanny while exploring her passion for photography in her spare time.

• Her negatives and prints were stored away in boxes and storage lockers, unseen by the world.

• In 2007, real estate agent John Maloof purchased a box of her negatives at an auction and soon realized he had discovered an extraordinary archive.

• The documentary Finding Vivian Maier explores her life, revealing a complex, enigmatic artist who never sought recognition.

Her Influence on Street Photography

Despite her private nature, Maier’s photographs have profoundly influenced street photography:

• Her connection with her subjects and commitment to honest storytelling have inspired countless photographers.

• Maier’s work is featured in Vivian Maier: A Photographer Found, which showcases the raw beauty of her perspective on American life.

Did you know…

1. A Collector of Everything

Vivian Maier was an obsessive hoarder. She collected not just photographs but also newspapers, ticket stubs, receipts, and countless other ephemera. Some of her belongings filled storage units and many of these items offered clues about her life.

2. Fake French Accent

Despite being born in New York, Maier often spoke with a French accent. She spent part of her childhood in France, but many people who knew her later in life believed the accent was exaggerated, perhaps as a form of self-mythologizing.

3. Self-Portrait Enthusiast

Maier was fascinated with self-portraits. She often photographed her reflection in mirrors, windows, and even puddles, creating an extensive and unique catalog of self-representation.

4. A Forgotten Funeral

When Maier passed away in 2009, she had no close family or friends to claim her body. Her burial was arranged by three of the children she had nannied decades earlier, highlighting the profound but complex relationships she formed as a caregiver.

5. Mysterious Personality

Vivian Maier was intensely private. She locked her room, used aliases, and rarely revealed personal details. Even the children she cared for described her as an enigma.

6. Interest in True Crime

Maier was fascinated with crime stories and kept clippings of sensational news stories. This interest often bled into her photography, where she captured gritty, raw moments on the streets.

7. Unclaimed Work

Much of Maier’s work, including undeveloped film rolls, was found in storage units she could no longer afford to rent. These units were auctioned off and led to her posthumous discovery as a photographic genius.

8. Shot with Modest Gear

Despite her extraordinary talent, Maier didn’t use high-end photography equipment. One of her primary cameras was a medium-format Rolleiflex, which she used to shoot her iconic street photography.

9. Lawsuits and Ownership Disputes

The discovery of her work sparked legal battles over the ownership of her negatives and prints. To this day, the legal status of her estate remains complex.

For further reading, make sure to read about the famous Russian photographer Alexey Titarenko.