Mary Ellen Mark (1940-2015)

Mary Ellen Mark left us on May 25, 2015. But her legacy and work not only left an enormous impact on the world of photography, but they changed the way we see. They changed how we see people.
I haven't done a proper biography on Mary Ellen Mark for the show yet. She passed away this week - this is my homage to who I think is one of the most important and influential photojournalists of the 20th century.
Everybody Street: Mary Ellen Mark • Everybody Street: Mary...
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Ted Forbes
The Art of Photography
3100 Main St #135
Dallas, Texas 75226
My name is Ted Forbes and I make videos about photography. I’ve been making photographs most of my life and I have a tremendously deep passion for photography that I want to share with you on KZbin.
The Art of Photography is my channel and I produce photography videos to provide a 360 degree look into the world of making images. We all want to get better so lets do this together!
I make videos covering famous photographers, photography techniques, composition, the history of photography and much more.
I also have a strong community of photographers who watch the show and we frequently do social media challenges for photographers to submit their own work. I feature the best and most interesting on the show when we do these so come check it out and get involved!
So come check it out! If you’re a fan of DigitalRev, Fro Knows Photo (Jared Polin), Matt Grainger (That Nikon Guy) or Tony Northrup - you’ll love The Art of Photography. I make video’s giving you a deeper dive into photography techniques, composition and history to compliment the other channels you love to watch.

[@emmylou-y4b]

Streetwise has haunted me since I first saw it in 1984. I watched it again on KZbin and knowing the tragedy of the lives of these children made it all the more poignant. Mary Ellen's continued connection with them shows her humanity as well as her masterful artistry as a photographer. I wish she was around today to chronicle these sad and turbulent times. Thank you so much.

[@echike]

Man I just came across this video adter seeing a Matt Day video on “the book of everything”. This was an excellent video and even though it’s from 5 years ago the message is eternal. Thank you as always for the work you do Ted! You’re really inspiring!

[@davidmartins3392]

Thanks for this video! Mary Ellen was a huge photographer with a lot of humanity...love her work

[@danishphoto]

Thanks Ted for this nice video of an wonderful photographer. I know her work mostly from the "Everybody Street" movie. The photos you showed can only come from a photographer full of emotions and sympathy for the people she photograph. I am enjoying your videos about the great photographers of our time. A fun fact to make you smile :-) English is not my primary language, but Danish. You talk very fast and to get you talk a bit slower, so I get every detail you say - I turn down the speed of the video to 0,75. And it works...

[@donl.l.15]

Mary Ellen Mark was one of the pivotal photgraphers of the 60s,70s,80s. Her body of work was phenomenal I remember as a kid looking at her photos in magazines and of course who can forget streetwise, this is still a relevant docu homelessness is more prevalent today times change people really don't all that much. Theres an ebb and flow to the world up and down she always captured the down in such an incredible way. Rip M.E M.

[@stuvs830]

What a gift to have you curate her remarkable work. Thank you for this.

[@AuthenticSound]

The statement of Mary Ellen is true, not only to photography. I had the opportunity of speaking recently extensively with Philip Newell. Well, Philip is one of the most legendary sound engineers we have today, having started with Richard Branson the so famous Manor Studio's for the young Virgin Company, having recorded a large part of what now is history, people like Mike Oldfield to a 450 man production of Bernstein. The first thing he mentioned me was the same thing as Mary Ellen's quote: things have dramatically changed since the '80ties, there are so few opportunities left where you really can do the very best without compromising on budget with only the very best people. 'They' seem not to care any more for the end result, just focussing on profit and growth, combined with the fact that real education is exchanged for the false confidence that large companies spread that their material can and will guarantee you the best result. But it is not the equipment... it are the people behind it. One of Philip's statements was that back then, if you were really good, also as a musician, you had a great chance of making it (having to work like hell and perform constantly on the highest level), whereas today that is much more difficult.

[@davidrothschild8913]

Ted thanks for doing this video, it needed to be done. What a tremendous photographer and what a wonderful woman. Her perception of the business and her idea of what photography is about is truly inspiring.

[@slowboat8452]

She was truly amazing. Thank you for introducing me to her work, Ted.

[@ryanf6157]

I stumbled onto your channel today through your "I Quit My Teaching Job Today" video and I have to thank you for your sincere words and this remarkable biography of a photographer that I've never heard of until now. This was an incredible tribute and I was deeply moved watching it.

[@christopherbarber9351]

This is a particularly wonderful segment! Thank you not only for showing us her work and giving us some of her comments about the work; but for your thoughts in the ending summation.

[@Delbertmills]

I know you get remarks on your channel that go into infinite detail... Mine is simple. I am so FULL after watching this on, I don't know where to begin. I just love your work here. Thanks.

[@theartofphotography]

Thanks Donne!

[@EasyFold007]

You are such a great host and no one could've done this short tribute to Mary Ellen any better. Keep up the great work you are doing.

[@tomknight3899]

Just discovered her and I’m blown away. Her body of work is incredible!!

[@HMBRDLDY]

Thank you for posting this .

[@nlanca1]

Very sad news, Mary Ellen left us too soon. The lady's work is definitely worth an in-depth look as you hinted and I look forward to that. Many thanks once again Ted.

[@ThePosiview]

Another interesting, thoughtful and poignant video, Ted. Keep up the high quality videos. Cheers.

[@Macdog1717]

I love your videos. They are all so inspiring.

[@theartofphotography]

Macdog1717 thanks!

[@randybacon7422]

Great work Ted. Your commitment to the "art of photography" is not only enjoyable to follow, but also so important in this day and age of instant gratification with a camera. There is so much more power in this artform that the current generation is missing overall. Keep up the good work. Randy

[@StephanieGraham]

Fantastic video Ted! She would have been proud of this!! What a great women and a sad week in photography. I'm happy that she was here though and made such an impact on the world and photography community.

[@Keyoung44]

I love her work and have a couple of her books. Surely film itself will miss her. I was very pleased to see your video acknowledging her.

[@nathanperkins6544]

Mark has been an inspiration for me. Ward 81 is a fantastic book

[@davesfineart1]

A wonderful tribute to Mary Ellen Mark. Thank you.

[@MarcS4R]

fantastic feature Ted. thank you .

[@stefanol9272]

R.I.P Mary Ellen Mark I really got touched by her works, And I simply love her photos they are very powerful and full of emotions also I agree. many things in this world has gotten out of touch with reality. Keep of the good work here and please much for of these great photographers.

[@tonyfeighery3118]

Heartfelt Ted.Thanks another great video

[@LukeCorte]

Your emotion in this video is very so inspiring. Good work 👍

[@fowetwork]

A really sad loss. Her work was so good. A truly great documentary photographer.

[@marcmuntane4496]

Streetwise is a must watch thanks for doing this!! :)

[@Sophia1a1]

Just seen it today. Amazing documentary

[@IainHC1]

Almost a year on and I've just found out about Mary Ellen's passing :-( I've always loved her work! Thank you for letting me know Ted. God rest her sole xx

[@Masimba]

That was very heartfelt tribute to a woman who clearly made a difference to so many. May I suggest you film an episode on another important photojournalist: Margaret Bourke White. I think her work should be brought into greater public consciousness. Thanks again for your fine work Ted...

[@RR-bd4bm]

Great video, many thanks! So interesting how she saw the role of photography change. How lovely her photograps are!

[@frankielee8734]

Keep up the great videos and tributes. We love your work and channel, Ted.

[@miketaylor1403]

Only just watched this today and the last couple of minutes really chime with the sentiments in the very latest video (post the pulling of the Artist Series one). Photography is changing, the world is changing and all it means is that we need deep, thoughtful, well produced, quality shows like AoP more than ever.

[@vgabrie]

My favorite photographer, Mary Ellen Mark. Great tribute, great video...

[@Anna-pv4tv]

Ted, beautiful and sensitive tribute to Mary Ellen Mark.

[@DavidMeyerPhoto]

Great video. She was right, the market for photo reportage is relatively small these days. It seems that this genre moved more towards the world of art. Which means it still can be sold, but there are few outlets for that and then you have the whole process of making your name in the photography world. It takes time. It doesn't pay well and it takes a very long time before you see any money from this sort of photography. The newspapers are moving away from hiring staff photographers, a story on prostitutes somewhere in India will make it to some news websites, maybe get published once in a while, but such stories are nothing new these days, they don't grab attention for long enough to put them in the papers too often. Some time ago I spoke with people in a small photo / news agency, providing images for the press and what they said is similar to my experience with image sales. What sells licences are portraits of celebrities, paparazzo type of work and lifestyle in general. Which is not exactly a very artistic stuff, it's just picture snapping in many cases. You have a better chance for selling a snapshot any tourist could take during their holiday than for selling something that would require research, getting to know your subject and telling their story. You will be better off shooting air lanterns or yet another snapshot of Taj Mahal in India than going to a slum and shooting a reportage on people living there. This is what newspapers want today because this is what sells the newspapers. Of course, you still have photo journalists out there shooting natural disasters, military conflicts or photo reportage, but it's very difficult to break into this type of photography. The choices today are limited, especially if you want to make a living out of photography. One way is to go the art route, which is tough, takes plenty of time and there is no guarantee you are going to succeed at any point (most likely you are going to fail). A chance for being a successful (in a financial way) photographer doing that is very, very slim. Or you can do decorative type of stuff: wall prints, mobile phone covers, book covers (slightly more artistic, but in a kitsch way, not Diane Arbus way) and call it fine art. Or you can go the commercial route, which means you have to run a business delivering services and products for specific clients, so basically be happy with being a craftsman. Or take the route of teaching and education. So in terms of money, being a photo journalist is probably the worst possible choice.

[@kingoftheorient]

+David Meyer I will save this as my note in facebook. This is gold. Quoted David Mayer.

[@BravoDanny1]

its not so many masters left, but their masterpieces remain. I was actually watching a documentary on Man Ray when i got the message about Mary Ellen Mark passing. Its sad days for photography..

[@theartofphotography]

BravoDanny1 Indeed. The world is changing - particularly for photojournalism which is almost dead and impossible for great photographers to do for a living. Mary Ellen was very special.

[@DarkAngelEU]

The Art of Photography It isn't dead, it's changing like everything else. I never really understood why museums are so interested in documentary photography but I guess it's just that obvious: if the media doesn't care about showing reality anymore then where else but the houses of the arts

[@DreKC]

A great homage to her.. Very touching!

[@chopstickpizza]

awesome channel! You are doing a GREAT job! Thank you

[@Katana2040]

Love this show, man! Keep up the great work!

[@johnnyangel504]

Wonderful... She was my friend and hair client in the 80's at H.Hair ( Jean -Louis Hym de Coffier) 123 Prince street with Carole Goldberg.

[@ianjohnstone2432]

Only just discovered your channel, feel like I am going to be a regular visitor.

[@itsjohnthomas]

Newish to your channel - I enjoy learning about these photographers. Keep up the great work!

[@sweetjane5033]

beautiful presentation ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@davymike761]

What a powerful final statement...surface gloss...couldn't be more accurate!

[@kudasteam]

You are engaging me that's inspiring! I love your narrative and keep on posting.

[@Bearhawk58]

Well organized. You stuck to the point and made quick progress.

[@brentdrafts2290]

As always Ted, good work. Having lost my Father and Sister the last couple of years it does leave a big blank for things "should have said". Sometimes these marks in the form of photographs are the stamp of "them". I know I spent a lot of years doing things in making in marks in peoples lives with products my Dad's companies sold. Guess I'd like to do that in comming back to photography from my interest as a teenager. (Who are these goof-balls that give don't likes (thunbs down).

[@socratescafe2004]

Very cool tribute. I am just wondering if you could also mention the work cameras these legendary photographers use for their works? Just a suggestion as we who are of digital generation, who are also venturing into film photography now, would be so interested in knowing about the legacy.

[@tasospasalimaniotis]

Hello from Greece! I love your show!

[@quincybattieste]

Very good tribute.

[@splootan]

Great video and knowledge.. keep this going

[@RobCastro]

Enjoyed this. Thanks.

[@DavidBirchphoto1.]

Very sad news, great video.

[@andreamulder1961]

Thanks for this.

[@ferdinandmanuel4643]

i wish you will do this type of content again 😥

[@jderevere]

Thank you Ted .

[@williamreed912]

Thank you for this review!

[@namasteme]

amazing woman and shall never be forgotton

[@13445000]

Great work Ted!

[@prashatuladhar4154]

Thank You !

[@ricardopinto1579]

I'm portuguese and I Wonder if you know the work of Rui Palha.. He is a street photographer and I wanted ti know your thoughts about it, ir maybe a video!

[@JoshClarkson13]

very good video

[@guilhermevaz8833]

Grandes fotografias !

[@johnsouza001]

Slowly we are losing the Iconic photographers. Now here is the difference, although the landscape of photography has changed, but we will only remember these iconic photographers for yrs to come and no one will even know the names of todays magazine gimmick photographers whose ego is bigger than their images.

[@josephmulpeter63]

so sad, she was one of my favourite photographers. I hate that there isn't a market for photographers like her anymore, she was a true artists. nower days everyone is a photographer, and the commercial work is repetitive and not inspiring one bit. :(

[@gerryyaum]

I have always felt if the work is important you do it because it is important not because you can make a living with it. If you have to make your money another way, do that, make the doe, then come back to and do the important pics. Nothing should stop you from making the kind of photographs you want (NEED) to make. Thank you so much Ted, for the Mary Ellen Mark tribute, I always loved her spirit and her photography. "Falkland Road" might be the greatest book of pictures ever created. RIP Miss Mark you were a inspiration and will be greatly missed. Gerry www.gerryyaum.blogspot.com

[@victorwhitby4401]

Great vid

[@raphbdlm]

Sad moment...

[@markquiram9012]

Just going back through the video list. I have been trying to understand Mary Ellen Mark. I think I finally put all the pieces into place about how and why she worked. The how, not to difficult to do technically, the why and what is much deeper than I had ever realized. Why, such as, why this subject, why this location and the whats as in what is she trying to say, what is going on, what is the mindset of the person, society and the photographer at THIS moment. I couldn't have been more wrong about her. I didn't like her images because something seemed off-putting. Finally I realized that they were meant to challenge your thinking, face the fact that the world wasn't all "rainbows and unicorns". The first step to solving a problem is to realize there is a problem, the second step is to realize you are part of it now that you are aware...what are you going to do. Her work challenges me to face unknown prejudices and ideas even if they just color my outlook. Because I face those ideas and look to change, I am a better person because of her work. It stinks that it took so long to see that.

[@louisadrill7060]

mary ellen -genius

[@johnllewellyn-jones8400]

Yeah.

[@curiousmonkey5995]

called home. i like that. ;)

[@bedevere007]

sweet

[@jenntitus2929]

I love tiny

[@johnllewellyn-jones8400]

Her family had left her paralysed when it went into print.

[@alexcarrillo4143]

She is the true factor I capturing the human condition, better than Annie, that is my opinion, (watch I'm going to get emails) well I have 5 books and a documentary commentary of her describing of Bresson, Vivian Maier.

[@ezrarussell7640]

Soooo......15 people are a-holes, at this point (glass half empty)

[@Korsaro1]

You speak too mutch

[@radixreuel7631]

Marry Ellen Marks/ Martin BellSTREETWISE remains the genesis of homeless docs & arguably the most embraced & enduring. It remains as haunting omen as homelessness in America today continues to sky rocket. “The pandemic has created a new wave of homelessness and we are not prepared for the consequences of this looming tsunami.” -Asa Don Brown

[@darlingtonboobam4107]

what an amazing person.. God bless you Mary Ellen.. RIP..

[@Freetheworldfromislamscum]

Oh my word! i saw her in Birmingham early this year! She was amazing