Vivian Maier Photo Fest Anyone ?

[CameraQuest]

hey photo fans !

with all the Vivian Maier madness all over the web

I can't help but think

a Vivian Maier Photo Fest could be very entertaining !

proposed rules

1) B/W pics must be taken with a 2 1/4 film Twin Lens Reflex of some type
2) pics to be taken on street trying for VM's style of photography
3) contestants agree to wear Vivian Maier costumes during photogarphy
4) pics can be taken anytime up to Halloween 2013 - this will allow more men contestants using Halloween as cover for their VM outfits
5) 2 categories of street photos and self portraits, maximum of 5 entries per category
6) winners decided by RFF membership voting in VM Photo Fest Gallery
7) Contest entries end November 18th
8) Winners will get something VM apparently never got in her lifetime - recognition as a photographer

9) any suggestions for additional rules or rule modifications ?

It will be good to have more female photogs participating than in most RFF photo contests.

call me nuts, but I think these ground rules would yield some interesting pics!


Stephen

 

[f16sunshine]

you photo fans

with all the Vivian Maier madness all over the web

I can't help but think

Vivian Maier Photo Fests could be very entertaining !

rules

1) pics must be taken with a 2 1/4 film Twin Lens Reflex of some type
2) pics to be taken in a designated contest week
3) contestants must wear Vivian Maier costumes during photogarphy

call me nuts, but I think these ground rules would yield some interesting pics!

Stephen

Who's the head bartenders.... bartender? 😀
I'm in but for rule 3 !

 

[CameraQuest]

Who's the head bartenders.... bartender? 😀
I'm in but for rule 3 !

the idea
right or wrong
is to make the photographing
as entertaining as the pics

so most of the contestants will be women
- what's wrong with that ?

Stephen

 

[nikon_sam]

Here are a few self portraits to give everyone an idea of what they will be wearing...

http://www.vivianmaier.com/portfolios/self-portraits/

 

[Richard G]

I couldn't do it. Joel Myerowitz comments in the trailer of the new film what a special engagement she must have established with many of her subjects, just in the course of a few moments. I think it would be a very different engagement I would establish in a long skirt and blouse and wearing a TLR, especially with me having no long brown hair to tie back. I fear that VM would disapprove.

 

[f16sunshine]

the idea
right or wrong
is to make the photographing
as entertaining as the pics

so most of the contestants will be women
- what's wrong with that ?

Stephen

I think it's a great idea.
Themed contests are always fun.
In fact on second thought.... We should have a special prize for best self portrait while in costume!

 

[back alley]

any excuse to put on a dress...

 

[dmr]

Well, I do have a 2 1/4 TLR though I rarely use it. I haven't shot any B&W with it but it might be fun. I assume the theme is street.

If I remember, Vivian shot wearing something like a khaki big shirt, slacks, and kind of a wide brim hat of some kind, not a long skirt. Update, just looked at the selfie gallery above and I'm sure I could put together a convincing VM outfit. 🙂 Her hair doesn't look tied back, just a shorter do. My hair is longer but I guess I could tie it back. LOL, when I tried it last time I looked like a 50-ish has-been hippie type.

Anyway, sounds interesting. What is the timeline?

 

[CameraQuest]

Proposed rules have been updated.

What do you think?

worthwhile or not ?

Stephen

 

[rhl-oregon]

The great thing about specifying a Halloween deadline in June is that it allows time (for male participants of a certain age, like me) for the estrogen therapy to work while growing my hair long and losing 50 pounds.

(Apropos of something, I gave a reading north of Portland last night, and one of the audience members WAS Vivian Maier--except his wig was shoulder length, and his blouse design would not have been contemplated in the 1950s.)

 

[Pioneer]

I'll have to see if my daughter is up for this. Sounds like a great contest and I am pretty sure she can make the Rollei work if I load it for here. 🙂

 

[BLKRCAT]

I feel like rule 3, while fun, wouldnt help male photographers much in achieving that VM style with her subjects. I almost feel rule 3 is a little satirical and could be interpreted as disrespectful.

 

[alistair.o]

Proposed rules have been updated.

What do you think?

worthwhile or not ?

Stephen

What kind of question is that! Of course it's worth it. I am having my two piece pressed and looking for a new bag even as I type.

No excuse needed here...

Click, click!

 

[dmr]

What do you think?

I'm in! 🙂

worthwhile or not ?

Sounds like a great excuse to get out the TLR and do something with it.

Since the deadline is October 31, I have one trip to St. Louis and another to Chicago for some better street scenes than I can get around here.

Hey, I tried to get into the Weegee frame of mind a while back. 🙂

 

[djcphoto]

I'm only in it for rule 3!

 

[cz23]

What do her or anyone's clothes have to do with their photography? Strike rule 3 and honor her photography and not her fashion.

And btw, why not allow any camera with true waist-level capability? Many digital cameras offer articulating screens that can channel the spirit of Vivian.

John

 

[tunalegs]

Maybe the contest should be to locate the best living senior citizen photographer in your area. Who knows, maybe those boxes of slides grandma has in the basement are filled with photographic treasure...

Maier is great and all, but it is rather depressing that she never got to see the attention her photos have gotten. Or for that matter if she would have wanted us to be giving them attention.

 

[dmr]

What do her or anyone's clothes have to do with their photography? Strike rule 3 and honor her photography and not her fashion.

As I look at more of the self portraits, a few of her outfits are quite androgynous, so the gentlemen among us should be able to be somewhat in costume without exceeding any comfort levels. 🙂

And btw, why not allow any camera with true waist-level capability? Many digital cameras offer articulating screens that can channel the spirit of Vivian.

If you look at the angle from which many of those shots were taken, yes, some are obviously waist height, but others appear to be chest or eye level.

I do understand that VM went to 35mm in her later years.

 

[ampguy]

yes

yes

as well as her hair styling.

It's too bad she didn't keep a journal, or if she did, that it hasn't been published yet. Perhaps she enjoyed the capturing experience, to interact with people, however briefly, and didn't really care to see the results, she'd rather just go out with her camera again and take photos, and meet people very briefly.

Perhaps she kept the rolls in case she felt she took something that she definitely wanted to see in print, and if not, just kept the rolls for a rainy day, like Winogrand.

I look forward to seeing the results from this project.

As I look at more of the self portraits, a few of her outfits are quite androgynous, so the gentlemen among us should be able to be somewhat in costume without exceeding any comfort levels. 🙂



If you look at the angle from which many of those shots were taken, yes, some are obviously waist height, but others appear to be chest or eye level.

I do understand that VM went to 35mm in her later years.

 

[cz23]

As I look at more of the self portraits, a few of her outfits are quite androgynous, so the gentlemen among us should be able to be somewhat in costume without exceeding any comfort levels.... 🙂

True. But WHY?