Imagine: Vivian Maier: Who Took Nanny's Pictures

[CliveC]

The BBC aired a 70 minute documentary about Vivian Maier this week. As per most BBC productions, it was really top rate. It goes through her history, talks to some of the children she looked after, follows the discovery and sale of her archives etc. Of course, a lot of photos of hers were shown.

You can view it here on YouTube for now, but who knows if it will be taken down. I don't believe it's quite complete either (60 minutes out of 70). I was able to procure the full documentary off of bittorrent on a private tracker.

Those of you in the UK can view it on the BBC iPlayer for the next month, I think.

 

[Michael Markey]

Yes , I watched it last night on iPlayer.

I agree it was top rate with a top rate presenter ,Alan Yentob .
He`s unobtrusive and always asks the right questions.

It seemed problematic that her material is now spread amongst different factions .

 

[Frontman]

My favorite line: "We're trying to push her work and not look like public assholes."

Translation: "We are trying to make as much money as possible off her life's work without looking like greedy assholes".

 

[sig]

It is difficult. Not a big fan of the 'make as much money off Vivian', but at the same time if they did not have that attitude we would not have seen her photos.....

 

[Rodchenko]

Interesting. I didn't know about her before.

My partner is a nanny. No Rolleiflex but she has a Fuji...

 

[John Lawrence]

Taped it and watched it yesterday.

It's very, very good - and definitely worth watching!

John

 

[daveleo]

It is difficult. Not a big fan of the 'make as much money off Vivian', but at the same time if they did not have that attitude we would not have seen her photos.....

Yes, I agree with you.
I am always depressed thinking the artist usually dies poor and others get
rich buying and selling each other their pictures, but that's how the world has worked forever.

Okay, let them make their money, we get to see this (IMO) truly wonderful stuff.

 

[jsrockit]

Thanks for the link. I'll view it during lunch today.

 

[thirtyfivefifty]

Excellent! Thank you.

 

[xyz3450]

Next in the BBC season is Don McCullin....

 

[dmr]

I'm waiting for one of these new rich guys to announce the Vivian Maier Foundation - funding several photographers / projects each year, with 25% of the print sales money..

Actually I like this idea! 🙂

 

[PRJ]

The only interesting photos to me in the documentary are the ones that were laid out on the table because they were from her life, done the way she wanted them. The rest is just a money making enterprise riding on the hype. Look at the size of the prints that are done today. Huge by comparison. Compare the prints laid out on the table and the large prints. The large prints look nothing like the small prints. Would she have wanted that? They are about as legitimate as a blank canvas that Picasso owned when he died that was painted on and said to be a Picasso.

A telling fact that they disclose is that Maloof didn't want to take part in the doc because he is doing his own. So whenever Maloof says he just wants to get her name out, call total BS. What he wants is money. I bet his doc will be for sale......

 

[OurManInTangier]

When there's money to be made, somebody will make it.

What I found interesting was that so many people in the documentary seemed to like to put their spin and their ideas behind Vivian's pics

 

[Shac]

Clive C - thanks for the heads up

 

[Dennis.Carlson]

My favorite thing in the doc was when they (supposedly) showed a roll of film she shot in sequence order and they were all 100% bangers. Her hit rate was insane. What I got out of the doc was a little more info on how "odd" she was, still love her work, and don't like who owns her work.

 

[OurManInTangier]

My favorite thing in the doc was when they (supposedly) showed a roll of film she shot in sequence order and they were all 100% bangers. Her hit rate was insane. What I got out of the doc was a little more info on how "odd" she was, still love her work, and don't like who owns her work.

That sequence impressed me, nearly enough to buy an old TLR...but then I remembered I'd still be crap with that😀

 

[Richard G]

Next in the BBC season is Don McCullin....

I saw him interviewed by Parkinson recently. One of the most riveting pieces of television I have seen in a long time. He is a compelling character and with a surprising humility.

 

[Pioneer]

That sequence impressed me, nearly enough to buy an old TLR...but then I remembered I'd still be crap with that😀

I did buy one and I am glad I did. I am certainly never going to threaten anything she was able to do, but it was still a good purchase. It is a fine camera, a true joy to work with, and it certainly has changed my perspective, even when I'm shooting with other cameras.

 

[charjohncarter]

Thanks, I watched the 'You Tube" version, 10 minutes short; it is good. I have watched many of these Vivian M. videos and this is the best. It is 58:16 minutes long so if you don't have the time: do 22:00 to 28:30 and 38:00 to 41:05. The rest is an interesting mystery, history and mental state presentation, but even for a jerk like me this part was enjoyable.

 

[Carl170]

Just watched this and quite enjoyed it. A friend and I watched a local news broadcast from where ever the first load of negatives was bought from. The guy came across as passionate about the work.

However, the vultures really are circling on this one now! $8000 for an actual print ? (!).

Also, a picture may tell a thousand words, but for me, sometimes having a few words about the people in them really opens up the images and the whole snapshot in time. 99% of these are interesting, but don't hold the same interest for me.

There was a homeless man here in Newcastle who died last year. Anyone who has been to the city in the last 20 years will have seen him. A local photographer posted some pictures on his blog and they were seen by the mans family in Liverpool. Some of his life story came out and it really added something to those images.

Regards

Carl