Stunning Simplicity

image by Vivian Maier via Vivianmaier.com

While ordering books for the library today, I came across a book titled Vivian Maier: Out of the Shadows by Richard Cahan and Michael Williams.  I haven't seen the book itself, just read the review in Booklist, but I was curious to find out more about Vivian Maier.

Vivian Maier was born in New York city in 1926, traveled the world until about the 1950's when she settled in Rogers Park outside of Chicago.  She spent much of her life as a nanny and seemed to carry a camera with her everywhere, taking pictures of her charges and the scenes she saw on the street every day.  Her images were discovered after the contents of her storage locker was sold due to the fact that she couldn't pay her bill.  Most of the stunning black and white images were displayed only after her death in 2009 at the age of 83.

The images are gritty, beautiful, simplistic, haunting, and masterful.  If you haven't heard of her, I highly recommend seeking out Vivian Maier's story.