Vivian Maier – the fascinating story of one of the best photographers of the 20th century – Part 2

The story of Vivian Maier fascinates people. There have been many well attended exhibitions of her photographs around the globe. The documentary “Finding Vivian Maier” by co-directors John Maloof and Charlie Siskel was shown on Netflix and was nominated for an Oscar. A new book  “Vivian Maier Developed” by Ann Marks was published in February 2022. There have been countless newsletters and magazine articles, TV interviews, blog posts and videos. 

 

Undoubtedly, her narrative is thought- provoking. 

Three themes were highlighted for me:

1.Vivian’s talent was not discovered in her lifetime

 

Everyone who knew Vivian knew about her love of the camera.  There was even an anecdotal story that one of the boys Vivian used to care for was hit by a bus/car (not serious) and Vivian was engrossed in taking pictures of the accident instead of comforting the boy. 

 

Vivian worked for very wealthy families in Chicago and New York who had not only the means to support her but also the networks to promote her. Did the class and/or gender prejudices prevail or did Vivian’s personal characteristics like her difficult character and intense privacy put people off? Maybe it was a lack of curiosity about the person next door, or the darker sides of human nature – the envy of talent and devotion? Gore Vidal said it perfectly “Whenever a friend succeeds, a little something in me dies.” 

 

Vivian was looked at but never seen.

 

2.Definition of success

 

Vivian never published her photographs but she was constantly filming. It looks like her purpose in life was to document the street life of America and other countries in the 20th century. It seems that success for her was the joy of practising her art, seeing and capturing life with compassionate eyes.

 

This definition of success sits very uncomfortably with success as defined by society. Just look at the million followers of the Instagram account of Brooklyn Beckham, a young man of “no detectable talent and passion” with “humiliating public appearances” as a photographer or celebrity chef. Somehow aggressive mediocracy is much better at promoting themselves than the real talents. 

 

But practising the art you are passionate about is real success, isn’t it?

3. Devotion and practice

 

Every craft requires skills developed with time. Vivian spent all her life photographing. She took around 150,000 pictures of the streets in America and other countries around the world. She was a master of her art. But she practised every day. She was getting better and better.

It did not matter what life threw at Vivian – she stayed faithful to her art and passion, to her life’s mission. 

 

Sounds a bit harsh – yes, but there is no mystery in mastery – hard work pays off. 

Vivian Maier – the fascinating story of one of the best photographers of the 20th century – Part 1

1.Beginning of the story

My photography hobby led me to discovering the captivating story of Vivian Maier. 

In 2007 a 26-year old man called John Maloof entered one of the auction houses in Chicago. At this time he was working as an estate agent. 

 

He went to the auction looking for old photographs of the neighbourhood in Chicago where he was born. He bought a box of around 30,000 negatives for $400. They all belonged to an unknown photographer called Vivian Maier. 

 

John did not experience a “Eureka moment” regarding the photographs. He started scanning them and with time he recognised the mastery of the photographer. 

 

To cut the long story short, John Maloof (despite any legal and ethical concerns) discovered and gave the world the incredible art of one of the most talented photographers of the 20th century. 

 

 

 

2. Who was Vivian Maier?

 

Vivian was born on 1st February 1926 in New York to a French mother and Austrian father. When she was 4 year old she left the USA with her mother (her father was out of the picture) and Jeanne Bertrand, a portrait photographer. 

 

She lived with her mum in a village in the French Alps. Vivian returned to New York in 1939 with her mother and again in 1951 alone. 

 

She made a living by working as a nanny for wealthy families in New York until 1956 when she moved to Chicago. She continued working as a nanny for affluent families along the shore of Lake Michigan. 

 

Vivian died in 2009, two years after John bought some of her negatives. In her later years she was penniless and three of the children she used to care for got together some finances and bought her a small apartment where they looked after her. 

 

Some of her photographic work was put into storage lockers and due to unpaid rent on one of the lockers a collection of her negatives were auctioned off in 2007. 

 

In 2008 Vivian slipped on the ice in downtown Chicago and hurt her head. She was admitted to a nursing home where she died. 

 

She never married and did not have any children or close family or friends. People who knew her described her as an eccentric, very opinionated, strong willed, highly intellectual and deeply private. She claimed that she learned English from theatres and plays.

 

Vivian often worn a “floppy hat”, long dresses, woollen  coats and man’s shoes. She had a powerful stride and her camera was always around her neck.  

Vivian did not have any formal photography training.  She had her first amateur camera in 1949 in France. It was a Kodak Brownie box camera with one shutter speed, no focus control and no aperture dial. However, in 1952 she acquired a much more professional Rolleiflex camera.

Vivian captured the street life of America for more than 50 years, taking more than 150,000 photographs which she never exhibited, published or showed to anyone. You do not need to be an expert to recognise the talent, the brilliance and the mastery of the Vivian’s photographs when you see them. 

 

So, how could such a talent be among us and remain anonymous and unappreciated? 

 

All will be revealed in Part 2.

 

Coming soon.

 

Bloomsbury – the hidden bohemian face of London

London possesses so many faces and holds so many hidden gems. That makes me think of my visits to  London as treasure hunts. My latest discovery is Bloomsbury.
I heard about Bloomsbury in Courtauld Gallery. This gallery in Somerset House has a permanent (I think) exhibition of the paintings and craft of the Bloomsbury Group artists. The Bloomsbury Group was a very influential artistic and intellectual society at the beginning of 20th century. The members were living, meeting and working in the Bloomsbury district of London. Interestingly, they were very much into crafts and created beautiful “objects for common life” in the Omega Workshop such as ceramic pieces, lamps and lamp shades, rugs and even painted furniture. 


Bloomsbury is in the centre of London, not far from the Leicester Square and Covent Garden. Two tube stations give access to the area – Russell Square and Euston.


Russell Square station is the funny one. It has spiral staircase of 750 steps to the exit but if you attempt to climb them a voice loudly pronounces “Will the passenger who is climbing the stairs please go back and wait for the elevator”. I immediately felt something special in the air. 


The first breath in Russell Square brings the sense of art, intellect and bohemia. It is very fitting  that the nearby pub is called “Bon Vivant”. Gorgeous Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian buildings and beautiful squares and gardens create the character of Bloomsbury.
I love Tavistock Garden. It is magnificent and somehow intellectually charming. In the middle of the rectangular shaped garden is the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. There is always a floral tribute on its pedestal. Cherry trees were planted in the garden in honour of the victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 
In the south-west corner there is a bust of Virgina Woolf who lived in the area and was a member of the Bloomsbury Group. In the opposite corner is a memorial to the first British woman surgeon Dame Louise Aldrich-Blake. One Saturday afternoon I enjoyed a strange, exotic but very entertaining celebration by Japanese people at this corner.
Tavistock Garden is an oasis of tranquility and quiet relaxation. Until a big group of American students comes along. Bloomsbury is very academic. There are many universities and cultural institutions – The University of London, the Bloomsbury Institute, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the University College London, the British Medical Association, the British Museum and the Bloomsbury Publisher. Serious young people walk around making the area vibrant, full of anticipation and excitement. 
That brings me to the other charm of Bloomsbury – its bookshops and galleries. The famous Skoob Bookshop sells second-hand books and you can spend hours browsing and discovering  secret jewels. Next to the Skoob bookshop is The Brunswick Art Gallery that promotes pop-art. It gives a different, I will say modern and not so serious perspective to life and I think I will buy something there. 
The bookshop and the gallery are part of the the Brunswick Centre. It is a Grade II listed residential and commercial building. Brunswick Centre does not really fit in. Its design reminds me of the 1960s and I heard that the building is not very much liked by the residents due to its modernist structure. However, the shops, cafes and restaurants make the area excellent for meeting up and shopping. 
It is time to go home. On my return, my husband Adrian felt he had a problem when I confidently announced we should move to live in Bloomsbury London. That may happen one day but until then frequent doses of Bloomsbury’s charm will do. 

Happy Birthday

Many great philosophers and geniuses have applied their mind to the existential question “What is the meaning of life?” and they have given various answers. Call me big-headed but I have never had any difficulty when providing an answer to this question – the meaning of life is life itself, in other words the meaning of life is being alive. 
And there is no better time to celebrate life than on our birthdays. Birthdays are not about counting age or achievements. Birthdays are about the sweetness of life, joyful rituals of celebrating the miracle of breathing.
On my birthday I am the centre of attention of the most important people in my life – my family and friends, my colleagues. And importantly – they give me presents – expected presents and surprise presents (pleasant or unpleasant). What joy to open and appreciate them! 

 

It gets even better, birthdays are a justified reason for organising holidays abroad or parties at home

But in recent years I have come to the idea of cherishing the day after the birthday. All planned celebrations are over, afterparty fatigue is overwhelming and hurrah! – happy surprises are in store. 


Happy surprises like a gorgeous sunny October morning after a thunderstorm and power cut the night before with the buzzing Avon beach and sparkling white yachts around the Needles. The best morning to have an enjoyable girly chat on the terrace of the Noisy Lobster restaurant and to receive a beautiful copal amber necklace as a surprise birthday present. 
Birthdays are the days when we loosen up and just enjoy being alive. 

The ugly head of “I am not good enough”

Practising the art of self-observation helps us to recognise the signs of self-sabotaging in everyday life. One of the nastiest is the little inner voice telling us “I am not good enough”. 
If you hear this voice shoot from the hip, kill the bastard, slaughter its ugly head. You are good, you are very good and you are capable enough. 
 
Somewhere in your past maybe your parents (with good intention), or your teachers or your friends or your colleagues told you that you were not up to a single task. 
 
Your brain (naturally hardwired to notice the negativity more than the positive) picked the statement (true or not)  and internalised it. So every time you have a little blip or setback the narrative appears. 
 
Recently, I witnessed the following story. A well-qualified professional, with more than 20-years experience of delivering an excellent standard of professional service, struggled for a brief moment with routine training at work. 
 
He was so upset and angry with himself. I guessed the deformed mind of “I’m not good enough” possessed him and he did not brush it off as just a bad moment, a case of not paying enough attention or even not a very clear training task.
 
I witnessed how harsh we can be on ourselves, expecting to be perfect.
 
 
 
  
 
How can you smash the ill-flavoured voice “I am not good enough”? It is up to you – find your way of recognising it, accepting it and eliminating it.
 
There are many sources that can advise you on that – books, videos, documentaries, podcasts. And practise the process!
 
 
Personally, if I hear this voice in my head I am ready for it.
 
I immediately recognise the horrible account and firmly say to myself “It is only my mind, it is not the reality, it is not the truth.” It works for me and I notice that the voice is materialising less and less. 
 
The nicest thing about being human is being imperfect.
 
Let’s celebrate the beauty of imperfection.
 

Practising regular pleasure

There are some people that find life-long pleasure in their jobs. They are the lucky ones. For many of us work is something we do to pay our bills and acquire material things, including financing our hobbies. 
Hobby is defined as an activity that we practice regularly which gives us pleasure.
How we choose our hobbies is a very interesting question, but today’s subject is how we can ensure that the excitement and pleasure we experience from our new hobby stays with us in the long turn. 
Let’s be honest – we all have done that – choosing a hobby, investing money, telling everyone about it and bang – three weeks to three months along the line the new hobby is forgotten and we are looking for another one.
 Practising the art of self-observation is the key in this scenario.
 
 
Ask yourself and look  for the answers in your everyday life:
1. Does this activity inspire me? Do I sometimes start the activity tired and reluctant but finish it in high spirits, feeling joy and contentment? 
 
2. Do I give priority to this activity? Where is it in my list of important things?
 
3. Do I manage to allocate time to this activity in my busy day?
 
4. Have I sacrificed or am I willing to sacrifice something in order to practice this activity?

 

5. Have I ever thought of making my hobby my career?
 
 Depending on your answers – press ahead with the project, drop  it without regret or leave it for another time in your life. 
It sounds very simple and we all know what to do. Yet, the experience is: 
 
I already hear the sceptic voices saying that people are so busy juggling work, families and  responsibilities that they do not have time for hobbies. 

Think again! 

The time is coming when you will not be defined by the work you do but by the hobbies you pursue. 

1. Many people have a sense of failure and feel frustrated when they invest (time and money) on an impulse that only lasts a short time.
2. They really miss the opportunity to have more pleasure in their life by not choosing a hobby that brings them joy and fulfilment.

3. They blow the chance to earn money from something they love doing.
 

Perspective as a way of feeling good

 

One of the positive side effects of practicing the art of self-observation is gaining more awareness of your perspective.
What is perspective – it is the way you think, your mind. 
Let’s take the following scenario:
 
You give a proposal of advanced ideas to the establishment, you are willing to work hard to implement them and to build a team around them so there will be continuity if someone drops out. 
 
You know that the proposal is very good, feasible and will contribute to the progress of the organisation. 
 
It is rejected without any explanation. You are upset, angry, trying to understand why and blaming yourself that you probably did not present it in the best way.
 
Please, do not sabotage yourself. Change your perspective. 
 
Rejections result from lack of knowledge and fear of the unknown, There are so many examples in human history of decisions made by yesterday’s people trying to suffocate new ideas.
 
You cannot control outside influences – you can control your choices – so you can take on this uphill battle or move on and plant your ideas in more fertile soil. 
 
Next scenario – a year or so later the higher level of the organisation strongly encourages implementation of the ideas you suggested but which were previously rejected. 
 
How will you feel and think  – feel sadness because you wasted your time, feel a sense of revenge, think of the irony of the situation, etc?
 
NO, you have proof that you are a visionary, a person of new ideas and inspirations. 
 
Feel happy, feel good in yourself and next time give your ideas to an organisation that supports pioneers.
 

Summer vibes – Scottish Seduction Episode 2

When I was at school and university I liked taking part in a geographical game called “Pick Your Spot”. The game was very cool as it required only a globe of the world, some knowledge and a lot of imagination, humour and creativity. In a nutshell, one person was chosen to be  “the travel agent” or the storyteller. Their eyes were closed or they were blindfolded (depending whether the rest of the party was suspicious or not of cheating). The globe was set to spin, and the “travel agent” randomly put their finger somewhere on the globe. The place where the finger stopped  was the place the “travel  agent” was supposed to sell to the crowd as a place worth visiting. 
I doubt that Generation Z could understand the inspiration of this game. The digital world they know has changed everything in our lives including our entertainment. But imagine that there are no internet devices around. You need to retrieve everything you know about the place in question from your memory –  the nature, the people, the culture, some novels, stories and to use your creative juices to present a fascinating story in order to win the game. It was not only prestigious to win, but as the winner you selected the next “travel agent” and you set the globe spinning. 
The memory of this splendid game came to my mind when Adrian and I were travelling to Crail in Scotland. If you look to the east on the map of Scotland you will notice that the coastal line between the Firth of Forth river (the estuary of the river Forth) and the the Firth of Tay (the estuary of the river Tay)  looks like the split tongue of a snake.  It really appears as a place I would dread to put my finger on in the game years ago. What was I going to say to the gang – The film “BraveHeart” came out later in 1995, so I  could try telling something about the cold North Sea, the grey seals, the Robert Burns poems (Auld Lang Syne and Comin’ Thro” the Rye were very popular), the murder story of King Macbeth and how Lady Macbeth was trying to wash the imaginative bloodstains from her hands. Actually, I think  I could design some unconventional stories (especially detective) to secure the round. 
Years later, married to a man who was born and bred in Scotland, having experienced  numerous visits to Glasgow and Gourock, seeing Kevin Bridges’ show ( I only understood half of the jokes) and participating as a groupie at the Edinburgh Fringe I was still unprepared for the beauty and magic of this place and its people. It is a beauty that is not bold, it does not hit you in the face, it is not love at first sight.  It is a charm that grows on you – the stone houses, the links golf courses, the harbours with their little red and blue ships, white boats and fishing nets and the seagulls on the rocks in the North sea. And you realise when it is time to go home that your heart was touched and it feels very sad to leave. 

 

My husband is a keen golfer and The Old Course in St. Andrews is sacred for him. Local people were playing golf on this “home of golf” as early as  in 15th century. The golf course is a links type. The name refers to the sandy area along the coast. The sandy soil underneath the grass drains very well which is perfect for the golf game and not suitable for any agricultural activity. So the clever Sottish people decided to use the land for entertainment and healthy activities. By the way – The Old Course is still open to the public and anyone brave enough to show their mastery can have the game of their life – including crossing the famous Swilken Bridge and playing  the even more famous Road Hole. This year Americans are everywhere in St Andrews – loud, curious, and friendly. They are in the museums, shops, bars, restaurants and streets. They are on the golf course and I feel a secret pleasure watching them constantly break the golf course etiquette my husband Adrian is so fond of. Good for them – after three years of lockdown and staying home it is time to feel alive again. No better place for that than the magical Old Course in St.Andrews. 
 
However, the jewell of the summer visit to the East coast of Scotland is the Arts Festival in Pittemweem – a fishing village 10 miles from Crail. More about it in the next post.

Self-observation – practical division/Meditation

In next few articles I will share my version of the methods for self-observation, specifically – protocols that work for me. These methods are an amalgam of other people’s practices and modifications as a result of my personal experience. They are simple but require consistent practice, in other words – discipline. It is important to like them or to enjoy the challenge to practice them and to tailor them to your needs. 

The first method is meditation.

There are numerous myths about meditation, different types of mediations and a good deal of meditation classes which leave us very confused whether to meditate or not and if we meditate whether we are doing it right or not. 

Let’s start from the beginning – some general rules. The ultimate goal of meditation is to nurture our wellbeing and to reduce or stop our suffering. Self-observation is part of this process of knowing ourselves, our bodies, our thoughts, our emotions and our habits. The most important principles of self-observation are: it is non-judgemental and does not require action following the insights it delivers.

I practice transcendental mediation – or, should I say my version of it. I researched thoroughly for a while and found out that this type of meditation best suits my personality and my needs. It works for me. 

Here is my transcendental meditation protocol:

1. The meditation pose

The pose is sitting and comfortable. The sitting position gives the right balance between focus and relaxation and with practice you will start to feel this balance. The same applies to comfort – find a sitting position that feels good and relaxed – for example, your usual position for watching television, a position in which you like reading books, support for your back, a position with crossed legs, etc. 

                                 

 

 

 

 

 However, do not be limited by the pose. You can meditate when you walk along the beach, lake, through the forest or park, when you are in the garden, etc. 

                                 

2. Length of meditation 

I do 20 mins meditation. I time it by using a cooking gadget or my phone. At the beginning you may feel that the session is too long, you become restless and want to stop. If 20 mins is too long try 10 mins and gradually increase the time. 

3. Time

I practice meditation straight after waking up, before drinking my coffee or before looking at my phone. When we sleep our subconscious is alive and working. It makes connections and creates patterns that we are not aware of. If you meditate after wakening you may become clear about what you learned when you slept. Believe me, it works. You will be surprised by the results. Useful solutions and creative ideas will come to you easily.

                                                       

Meditation can be practiced at any other time if it suits your lifestyle and daily schedule better. Sometimes I meditate in the afternoon and also feel the benefits. 

4. Other conditions 

  • silence – personally I prefer a quiet place for my meditation – my home, my garden, park or forest
  • eyes closed – I also prefer to close my eyes but it is entirely up to you

4. Process of meditation

  • start by sensing your breathing, gently inhale and exhale, without controlling your breath.  
  • try to relax your body as much as possible by breathing into it  
  • start repeating the sound “Ah-hum” in your mind. The vibrations of this sound helps to settle your  mind. 
  • your mind will wander and you will find yourself engaging with your thoughts.
  • if you notice that your mind wanders and you are engaging with them, stay passive, just return to sensing your breath and repeating the settling sounds. 
  • gradually you will lose awareness that you are meditating. 
  • do not get up straight after the mediation time is over, sit for a while, listen to your body, listen to your mind and then off you go. 

The most important thing –  you will start feeling the benefits of meditation NOT during the meditation time but during your daily life. 

They will come in two ways:

  • you will notice that the universe comes to you – you will have great ideas, inspiration, creative suggestions that come to you from “nowhere”, you will feel calmer, more focused, more content , etc. 

                                     

  • other people, especially people who know you – family, friends and colleagues, will give you feedback about the positive changes they see in you that you haven’t even noticed. 

Lastly, my honest advice – do not waste your money on meditation gurus, or meditation classes. All you need is to find a time (10-20 min) every day to practise meditation. If you are still not sure how to meditate there are so many guided meditations on the YouTube channel you are spoiled for choice. 

I recommend reading the book “Bliss More” by Light Watkins. It was very useful for me when I was creating my meditation practice. Maybe it will help you too.