This is what it looks like....

Forums: Art, Photography, Mary Ellen Mark, Obituary, Obituaries
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I woke up this morning to find a note from osso in my inbox telling me that my hero, Mary Ellen Mark, had died.

Even if you didn't know her name, I have no doubt that you've seen her photographs. She turned her camera on everything and she showed us what it looked like -- to get old, to be homeless, to be poor, to be a prostitute in Bombay, to be famous, to go to prom, to be in a mental institution.

There are lots of photographers I admire and enjoy. They all showed me moments that I'll never otherwise see but she's the only one that showed me the lives I'll never lead.

If you're not familiar with her work I really urge you to visit http://www.maryellenmark.com/books/books.html. Click on any book and go through the photos and see these other lives.

From her photo essay on the homeless Damm family for Life magazine

http://www.photoxels.com/press%20releases/unicef-mem-pp.jpg

To her work with the the street kids of Seattle

https://pleasurephoto.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/mary-ellen-mark-street-photography-jennifer-tiffany-and-carrieportsmouth-ohio-1989.jpg

To the rich and famous

http://www.maryellenmark.com/images/520px/229F-003-011.jpg

She always showed me something I'd never seen before.

I'll miss her.

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@boomerang,

wow, route 23 goes right across US and ends up in Amish Country and then Philly. Thtd be a neat photo journal "Coast to Coast on a backass road

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@farmerman,

oops. I might have mis-posted that as being from the Seattle series. I think that one is actually from New York....

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@boomerang,

doesnt matter, 23 goes all the way N into New Englnd after Philly (nobody even gives NY a nod anymore), its so last week.

The hot town today is Keokuk

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Some more -

http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/may/27/mary-ellen-mark

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/entertainment/fine_arts/Legendary-Philadelphia-photographer-Mary-Ellen-Mark-dies-75.html

15 photos -
http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/art/A_tribute_to_Mary_Ellen_Mark.html

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Documentary-photographer-Mary-Ellen-Mark-dies-at-6287158.php

no doubt a lot more out there in the news today, but also probably a lot of websites from before.

Rest in Peace, Mary Ellen, and thank you for your work.

adds - this works for me, now to look at the books

http://www.maryellenmark.com/

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@boomerang,

I think you introduced me to Mary Ellen Mark.

Thought of you when I heard about her death on the news an hour or so ago.

She's one of those photographers that seemed to have an embedded camera - didn't seem to be interfering in things she took pix of.

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@boomerang,

As a veteran photographer and fan of photography's more serious editorial side, I followed Mary Ellen Marks's career. Her images are among the most powerful in the last 30 years. May she RIP!

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I wasn't aware of her.
Thanks for undoing that

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@boomerang,

Quote:

To her work with the the street kids of Seattle

That was a very moving picture for me . Of course the rich will say its their own fault for being poor, they are lazy . I'll definitely have a look at others by her , Thanks .

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This is what it looks like....

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