Worth a smile: Pete Tsai took a picture of his friend Bea through Vivian Maier's camera. Clever idea.
Mike
(Thanks to Jeff Goggin)
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Original contents copyright 2010 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved.
That is very cool. Love it.
Posted by: David Nicol | Wednesday, 12 January 2011 at 01:23 PM
I was at the opening and I found the shooting through Vivian Maier's camera a bit of a parlor trick, at best, or a Great America Ride, at worst.
Separately, you will be gratified to learn that I was interviewed by John Maloof's crew for his documentary. In response the question of where I first learned about Ms. Maier, I cited your wonderful blog.
Posted by: DanF | Wednesday, 12 January 2011 at 02:20 PM
Wow amazing coincidence! Saturday, I was at the exhibit and looked through the viewfinder and noticed it was focused o the wall too. At the time, I thought about taking a similar shot but the guard on duty was yelling at anyone even trying to hold a camera up to their face. Glad someone got the image - well done Pete!!!
Posted by: Mark Kinsman | Wednesday, 12 January 2011 at 02:55 PM
People who haven't had Rolleis probably don't realize that the hood folds inwardlly so pictures can be taken directly at eye level. It was/is a really neat, brilliantly thought-out camera.
Posted by: Bill Mitchell | Wednesday, 12 January 2011 at 02:57 PM
Would love to be able to go to that show Mike, but don't see it travelling to the UK just yet!
On a side note, we've actually used that technique for a vintage bridal photo shoot here: http://www.tinoandpip.co.uk/vintagetreasures/
Not easy focussing on a moving subject though!
Posted by: Martin Winter | Wednesday, 12 January 2011 at 04:10 PM
Hi,
As I was looking at this, my initial reaction OMG not another Vivan Maier post (not my cup o' tea yah see). But then I realized couldn't this technique be used with any any old Rolli? I love the idea. I'm jest sayn'
Christopher
Posted by: Chirtopher Lane | Wednesday, 12 January 2011 at 05:53 PM
What can we do about these yelling guards everywhere these days?
Posted by: Mani Sitaraman | Wednesday, 12 January 2011 at 07:26 PM
That is SO cool!!!!
Posted by: Jaimie Dee - Atlanta Wedding Photographer | Wednesday, 12 January 2011 at 07:39 PM
Apropos Ctein's post on camera prices and inflation (and obsolescence etc.) and this thread...
If you follow Mike's like you can see that Vivian Maier's Rolleiflex TLR had a selenium meter which leads me to believe it was a model 2.8F or 3.5F. Assuming Vivian Maier bought the more affordable 3.5F at $349 in 1960 or so. Very big bucks on a governess's salary. Perhaps it was a gift from an employer. In any case, with a further expenditure on film and/or processing for almost 100,000 photographs or about 8,000 rolls of film she must have spent a substantial amount of her income on her hobby.
Posted by: Mani Sitaraman | Wednesday, 12 January 2011 at 07:49 PM
"What can we do about these yelling guards everywhere these days?"
Well, I can tell you what I do. I walk up to the guard first thing and ask him the policy on photography. If he says it's okay, then I shoot whatever I want. If he says it's not allowed, I put the camera away and don't shoot anything. There are pictures everywhere. I can get 'em somewhere else.
BTW the new Modern Wing of the AIC is a lovely place to photograph. Beautiful light, and photography's allowed. And there are masterpieces everywhere. Somebody ought to do a whole project in that place.
Mike
Posted by: Mike Johnston | Wednesday, 12 January 2011 at 09:20 PM
@Christopher: that is, in fact, a Whole Thing. Search for "TTV photography".
Posted by: Matthew Miller | Wednesday, 12 January 2011 at 10:18 PM
Very sensible, Mike, I couldn't agree with you more.
I should have made clear that it is the now commonplace yelling in the name of 'security' that bothers me more. What about a polite but firm "please put away the camera sir/madam, photography is not permitted"?
Posted by: Mani Sitaraman | Wednesday, 12 January 2011 at 10:19 PM
@Christopher, and others who might be interested in this technique, googling "through viewfinder photography" or "ttv photography" will get you tons of pictures done this way, tutorials on setting up a kit, and pictures of these, ah, "contraptions". TLRs are most popular, but you could also use that otherwise useless Sinar 8x10 most of us seem to have lying around.
Posted by: Christoph Grabmayr | Thursday, 13 January 2011 at 05:53 AM
@Mike. Call Candida Höfer :-). Problem solved.
Posted by: Ed | Thursday, 13 January 2011 at 06:36 AM
@Mani: I thought I saw in the pic that is a F2.8!
Posted by: Dennis Ng | Thursday, 13 January 2011 at 08:39 AM
Christoph Grabmayr,
If you, or the countless others reading this would like to be rid of an otherwise useless Sinar 8x10, (or other large format camera,) I would be happy to take it off your hands for a small fee.
Will
Posted by: Will Frostmill | Thursday, 13 January 2011 at 08:48 AM
clever, but is it one of the most clever ideas of our time?
Posted by: gary isaacs | Thursday, 13 January 2011 at 09:02 AM
I'm sure happy so many other people enjoyed my picture! I really enjoyed the exhibit as did my friends that are purely from the digital age.
@Mani~ I belive I read/saw something about the fact that Vivian had come into some money from a relative in Europe that passed away and willed her a part of a farm. She sold her stake in that and used the funds to travel around the world for 6 months and then returned to her nanny duties. As more of the images are scanned it may be interesting to relive her extended holiday around the world.
Posted by: PeteTsai | Thursday, 13 January 2011 at 09:24 AM
"What can we do about these yelling guards everywhere these days?"
I feel ya but...it seems policy is often geared around ownership issues? Generally I have found that traveling exhibits seem to be off limits and collections owned by the institution are fair game. Not always but something I have found. Some places don't allow it at all of course.
Best to ask about the policy first. No need to argue with security.
Posted by: charlie | Thursday, 13 January 2011 at 09:33 AM
Matthew,
Thanks for the tip. What a great idea. I see that I can get a used Rolleiflex for under $200 at my local camera store. Suggestions anyone?
Chris
Posted by: Chirstopher Lane | Thursday, 13 January 2011 at 05:27 PM
Hi,
Can someone tell me exactly what Rollei model she shot with? Am having a ahrd time digging it up.
Thanks, in advance.
Chris
Posted by: Christopher Lane | Thursday, 13 January 2011 at 05:49 PM
This is what I love about the GH2
and cameras like it with an articulated
monitor. You can use it like a Rollei
looking down at an unreversed image.
Very handy when making candid images,
not having to bring the camera to eye
level and drawing attention to oneself.
Posted by: paul logins | Thursday, 13 January 2011 at 05:53 PM