Ann Marks - Vivian Maier Developed: The Untold Story of the Photographer Nanny

Self-portrait, Chicago, 1956 (Vivian Maier)

American/French Authoritative/Reserved Caring/Cold Feminine/Masculine Fun/Strict Generous/Unyielding Jovial/Cynical Neat/Packrat Nice/Mean Passionate/Frigid Personable/Stern Polite/Brusque Responsible/Inattentive Social/Solitary Feminist/Traditional Visible/Reclusive Mary Poppins/Wicked Witch

Descriptions of Vivian Maier by those who knew her best

T he story begins in 2007, at a foreclosure auction in Chicago. When one of the buyers, John Maloof, closely examined his purchaseabandoned boxes stuffed with photographs he hoped to use for a book projecthe uncovered a treasure trove: thousands of negatives shot by an unknown photographer. Maloof was only twenty-six years old, but his instincts told him that the pictures were special. He hunted down other buyers who had attended the sale and bought their boxes of prints and negatives. In fits and starts, he scooped up the majority of the photographers work.

The original buyers were able to identify the photographer as Vivian Maier because the name appeared on processing envelopes in their boxes. In an effort to find her, they repeatedly searched the internet but, time and again, they came up empty-handed. That is, until April 2009, when an obituary popped up revealing that a recently deceased Chicago nanny was the one who had taken all the pictures. She was called a photographer extraordinaire and second mother to John, Lane, and Matthew. Excited and intrigued, Maloof tracked down the family that had placed the death notice to learn more.

At the same time, after devoting the bulk of his savings to the purchase of Vivians photographs, Maloof contemplated the best way to share and market the work. Seeking feedback from those more expert than himself, he prepared a blog containing some of his favorite Vivian Maier photographs to link to the Hardcore Street Photography group on Flickr. When he clicked Share, everything changed. Vivians images were met with such enthusiasm that they began to go viral, with admirers sharing and resharing the photographs all over the globe. While relatively small in number, the original two dozen Flickr images were full of character and emotion, featuring a diverse array of topics and people: there was literally something for everyone.

Eventually, Maloof partnered with another buyer, Jeffrey Goldstein, to prepare and archive their combined portfolios. Few of the more than 140,000 images they had purchased were prints; most existed only as negatives or undeveloped film. Examination of Vivians materials as a whole brought the stunning realization that she had only seen seven thousand of her photographs, the number that existed in hard copy. In fact, 45,000 exposures had never even been developed. Master photographer Mary Ellen Mark considered this highly unusual circumstance and articulated what everyone else was thinking: Something is wrong. A piece of the puzzle is missing.

Vivian Maier Archive Components

65% negatives 30% undeveloped film 5% prints

As Maloof and Goldstein rolled out their portfolios, evidence of Vivians achievement and talent mounted. A nonstop cycle of shows, lectures, books, and accolades ensued, fueled by media that couldnt stop talking about the new nanny wonder. Newspapers, magazines, websites, and television networks the world over breathlessly told her story. The New York Times Lens blog exclaimed, The release of every new image on the web causes a sensation. The Los Angeles Times wrote that Vivians work was characterized by a crisp formal intelligence, a vivid sense of humor, and a keen grasp of the serendipitous choreography of daily life. She was called a genius by the Associated Press and one of the most remarkable stories in American photography by