Mary Ellen Mark, Amanda and her Cousin Amy, North Carolina, 1990, gelatin silver print, Photo by J. Scott 2 via Flickr, Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License.
The photographer Mary Ellen Mark passed away yesterday.
Mark is best known for her arresting images of people who live on the edge. She paid the rent by photographing celebrities for Look and Life magazines, but it’s the photographs of children living in difficult circumstances or patients in hospitals and the like that have showcased her talent. Her photographs have an intimacy that is genuine; she loved and respected her subjects. Her images are honest and direct and as a result they can be challenging.
Amanda and her Cousin Amy, North Carolina features a little girl who captivated Mark. The photographer was drawn to the girl who smoked and constantly cursed for her emotion and passion. Mark appreciated the strong will of the child, which is as much the subject of the image as the girl herself.
