Mary Ellen Mark. March 20 1940-May 25 2015 via Famous Photographers
Mary Ellen Mark, one of the great American social documentary photographers of the second half of the 20th century, passed away last Monday of myelodysplastic syndrome at the age of 75.
I’d seen the picture below, but was otherwise unfamiliar with her work. After learning of her death I spent some time reading about her and looking at her photographs. Very Impressive! I particularly liked the rapport she built up with her subjects and the way that she often stayed in touch with some of them for years afterwards. How different from many casual street photographs of homeless people that you see – often taken by people who have no real concern for their plight.
A photograph by Ms. Mark of the Damm family in Los Angeles in 1987. She used a classic documentary approach, usually working in black and white via the New York Times
The Online Photographer also has a second post containing more information in: More About the Remarkable Mary Ellen
The New York Times has an obituary: Mary Ellen Mark, Photographer Who Documented Difficult Subjects, Dies at 75
There’s also a fascinating video of a lecture given by Ms. Mark. entitled Most Influential Woman Photographer: Mary Ellen Mark.. Note that the audio is poor right at the beginning, but stick with it as it improves quickly.
Her own website can be found at http://www.maryellenmark.com/