Mary Ellen Mark - Seen Behind the Scene

I've been a big fan of Mary Ellen Mark for years - from her work in mental wards, circuses, brothels, city streets and Mother Teresa's mission to commissioned portraits. She's had an uncanny ability to become part of her subjects' environment, allowing them to be comfortable with her and tell their story through her lens. She connects with the people and beautifully documents their humanity with an empathy, aesthetic and warmth.

"The Damm family in their car"

"Rat and Mike with a gun"

"Shyama, Ahmedabad, India"

"Mother Teresa giving communion in the Mother House,

Calcutta, India, 1981"

But I've never really seen her movie work. Sure, I recall Brando portraits and a few odds and ends, but I was unaware of the extent to which she'd been a set photographer. And you know what? Regardless of whether her subject is an Indian prostitute or Hollywood superstar, that same empathy, warmth and aesthetic is undeniable.

Check out some of her behind-the-scenes work from her 2008 book "Seen Behind the Scene".


Mary Ellen Mark - Seen Behind the Scene - Index