Camp Shutter Sisters

camp shuttersisters from xanthe berkeley on Vimeo.

A Legacy

Watch this. 

Those words and a link to a video of Vivian Maier was all that was in an email that my friend had sent to me.  As I watched the short video piece, I was mesmerized and intrigued by this unkown woman.  In 2007 John Maloof purchased from an art auction a box that had been owned by Vivian containing over 30,000 negatives dating back as early as the 1950s. He decided to develop some of the photos (like the one above and the self portrait below) and what he has found is an absolutely amazing treasure.

In John's research on Vivian, he learned that she had never married or had children and was a very private person. She died alone at the age of 82 in a nursing home, her photographs never seen by anyone until now. So incredible is Vivian's photography that there will be a showing of her work next month at the Chicago Cultural Center.  John was able to purchase even more of her negatives and now has over 100,000 of her negatives and hundreds of undeveloped rolls of film which he plans to put into a book or make a documentary about Vivian.

Two things came to mind after learning of Vivian.  First, how sad that this wonderfully talented woman died alone, having never shared her gift of photography with anyone, ever.  If she had, I wonder how different her legacy might have been.  She very well may have helped pave the way for woman in photography all those years ago in a time when female photographers were a rare commodity.

Second, after seeing Vivian's story, I began thinking of what my legacy might be.  Yes, I would be remembered as a wonderful wife and mother but there is more to me than that.  I'm a photographer, too.  It's a large part of who I am.  If something were to happen to me tomorrow, would I have anything to show for it? Sure I would - and there are hundreds and hundreds of photos on numerous hard drives to prove that.  More importantly, would my husband or friends know how to gain access to them? No, they wouldn't and that is about to change. Some of the hundreds of photos on my hard drives will now be printed, matted and framed, put into books or given to friends.  What good is it to keep all of them stored and never shared with anyone? When I am gone, I want people to say that I was a wonderful wife, mother and photographer. 

What about you? What do you want your legacy to be? If you could choose one photograph (or two or three or more!) that you would want people to remember you as the wonderful photographer you are, please share.  Let us know you, too. 

You can see more of Vivian Maier's photography on the blog, Vivian Maier - Her Discovered Work.

Update on Friday, December 31, 2010 by Chris Sneddon

Since I've become so intrigued by Vivan Maier, I've learned that John Maloof is trying to raise funds to make a documentary film about Vivian.  If you'd like to donate to the making of the film, stop by Kickstarter to see a quick video by John describing just what it is he wants to do.  I think it's a great investment!

-Chris Sneddon

the six questions featuring Gail Mooney

Photo by Erin Kelly, all rights reserved.

Last weekend I attended the European Summit for Global Transformation in Amsterdam and was introduced to photographer and filmmaker Gail Mooney and her latest project, Opening our Eyes, a 99-day journey around the world with her daughter Erin to document and film the stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things in service to others.

Gail has traveled the world for over 30 years shooting for international companies and publications. To say that she is an inspiration is an understatement, and yet I'm not sure I can find other words to better describe the impact she's been having on my life ever since we shared a conversation and a grilled cheese sandwich a week ago. I learned a lot spending a couple of days in her presence, about how amazing it is what one small act can do, about being a woman photographer in our society today, about our responsibility to remember the truths about our work, and to hold them at once – of its playfulness, and of its power.

Gail graciously accepted to answer our SS interview. Here are her answers:

1. What's the story behind this photo?

This photo was shot by my daughter, Erin Kelly at the Kopila Valley Primary School in Surkhet, Nepal - the school that Maggie Doyne built. I had been filming the children at the school, shooting in the video mode of my Canon 5D Mark II camera and I was showing the kids the video playback of what I had shot. The children were all so excited and gathered around me to have a look when my took this photo - unbeknownst to me at the time.

2. What was it that lit your photography spark? Do you remember a particular camera, course, person, roll of film? 

I became a photographer in a backwards sort of way. I had been studying architecture at college and after my sophomore year, I took a break to travel around the world. After my year-long journey, I knew that I wanted to find a career that would allow me to live a lifestyle that involved diverse cultures, travel and peoples' stories. So I decided to pursue a career as a photographer and use my tool (my camera) as a means to that end.

3. What's your photo philosophy? Does it reflect your life philosophy?

As I said above, my camera gives me access to people and their stories and it is a powerful tool in creating awareness and effecting change. Yes it does reflect my life's philosophy - to use my talents to tell the stories of diverse cultures and social issues - to inform others and create understanding on a global scale.

4. Where do you look for inspiration?

Everywhere - I do not get my inspiration solely from other photographers or photographs.  I may be inspired by a piece of art in a museum or seeing something in nature when taking a long walk in the woods - or it may be something someone said to me over a cup of coffee.

5. What would you say is one of your "signature" editing tricks, themes or style? What do you think makes an image recognizable and uniquely yours?

I think that people can see the sincerity and honesty in my work.

6. What aspect of your photography are you constantly working on, trying to improve?

I am always learning and trying new things.  That is how I got into shooting motion almost 11 years ago.  I was looking for another way to tell a story - using sound and movement. 

7. If you could go anywhere in the world for an epic, weeklong photo excursion all by your luxuriously unhurried self - regardless of money, time or childcare issues - where would you go and why?

Antarctica - it's the only continent that I have not visited and it would a week of exploring extremes.

Thank you so much Gail!

To read more about Gail and the Opening Our Eyes project, please visit her website, blog and watch the trailer here. Gail also started a Kickstarter project to help raise finishing funds for Opening Our Eyes and inspire and motivate people to create positive change in their communities. Please take some time to learn more about this project and back it up if, like me, you believe in it.

Important note: Gail would like to use Jackson Browne’s song “Alive in The World” which inspired the title of her film so if anyone knows him, or someone who knows someone who knows him, please contact her!

Letting the pictures do the talking

 

Without having to say a word, I love how a photograph I have taken can convey just what I need it to.  We've heard it all our lives: A picture is worth a thousand words. With all the fabulous photo and slideshow programs available now, it makes it easier than ever to put those photos in a slideshow to share with others, conveying everything that needs to be said.  Add a little music and you've got a real treat.  

I recently put together a slideshow as a thank you for my lovely friend for all that she does for my son's school and the students that love her so.  I asked her friends, family and co-workers to choose a word that comes to mind when they think of her.  Each person then came up with their own idea how they wanted to highlight the word they had chosen and I then photographed them.  Everyone was so creative! The slideshow turned out beautiful and my friend was moved to tears by all the kind words. 

I'm not the only one doing this.  Just recently a gorgeous slideshow was made in honor of one of our sisters, Kristin AKA Maine Momma, for her birthday, made by a beautiful bunch of women using their photography and creativity to express what needed to be said.  How lovely it is when a photograph can do all your speaking for you.

Share with us today your creativity or ideas.  Who knows, maybe you'll inspire another.

being a woman is a gift

In a matter of days the Mom 2.0 Exhibit will be installed and available to see at the FotoFest gallery in Houston, Texas, even before the Mom 2.0 reception. This video was made for the show. I can say nothing more that needs to be said. The amazing Katherine Center said it all.

This is motherhood. We are living this movement everyday. We are defining it right now. This is how we love, share, worry, laugh, give up, give in and find a way to do it again, day in and day out without question, without skipping a beat, without regret.

The Mom 2.0 Summit is going to be an amazing conference. I was there last year so I know. I hope you can make it. And the exhibit (reception to be held Friday Night 2/19), will be nothing short of incredible, thanks to super-Laura Mayes, her creative team and so many of you talented, talented photographers. It has been a pleasure to work on the project and more than anything I know that what we're doing, as women, as mothers is going to be tangibly validated with every image hung, every word displayed and every person there to witness it.

I don't know about you but I know what Katherine says is true. Being a woman is a gift.

Share an ode to Womanhood today, in all Her splendor and authenticity and let's show the world what we're made of.