vivian maier
The famous photographer and Nanny, Mrs. Vivian Maier loved taking street portraits and secretly mastered street photography.
Which camera did Vivian Maier use?
The majority of her photographs were shot on the beautiful Rolleiflex 2.8F.
This is the same camera that I just invested in myself. She also shot with Rolleiflex 3.5T, Rolleiflex Automat, Rolleiflex 3.5F, and Rolleiflex 2.8C. Check KEH.com to see if they have a Rolleiflex available. In this video, you can see my take photographs with the Rolleiflex 2.8F.
Later in her life, she also used the Leica Inc. See the buyer’s guide to Leica cameras.
Maier’s images were often strikingly beautiful, featuring bold compositions and powerful visual storytelling. She had an eye for the everyday, capturing moments of joy, sadness, and everything in between. Despite her obvious talent, Maier never sought out recognition for her work. In fact, it wasn’t until after her death in 2009 that her photographs were discovered, hidden away in storage lockers, and auctioned off to collectors.
Who was she?
Vivian Maier was a fascinating enigma, a mysterious and immensely talented photographer whose incredible work remained undiscovered for decades. Born in New York in 1926, Maier spent much of her life working as a nanny, but in her spare time, she roamed the streets of Chicago, taking photographs that captured the essence of the city and its people.
How did she photograph?
The way Vivian Maier took her photographs was with:
Compassion and no fear
Low-angle shot from the waist
Entitled approach. She took the photos she wanted to take
She focused a lot on emotions and photography
Which film stock did Vivian Maier use?
She mainly shot black and white films. Usually Kodak Tri-X.
Does Vivian Maier have a photo book showing her work?
Yes, It’s called Vivian Maier: A Photographer Found and it features so many beautiful street portraits and street photography.
Also, make sure to watch how Robert Frank took his photos & Joel Meyerowitz’s street photography course. I also converted how Henri Cartier Bresson takes his photographs.
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. But 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.
It wasn’t until 2007, two years before her death, that Maier’s work was discovered by John Maloof, a young real estate agent and amateur historian. Maloof had purchased a box of Maier’s negatives at an auction and was immediately struck by the quality of the images. He began to research Maier’s life, piecing together a narrative that was as complex and mysterious as the woman herself.
As Maloof shared Maier’s work with the world, her photographs began to gain recognition and acclaim. Today, Maier is considered one of the most important street photographers of the 20th century, her work is celebrated for its honesty and authenticity. But despite her posthumous success, the mystery of who Vivian Maier really remained unsolved, adding to the allure of her legacy.
For further reading, made sure to read about the famous Russian photographer Alexey Titarenko.