kkdanamatt
Well-known
If you are expecting to see a collection of really compelling images by Vivian Maier, I would advise you not to buy this book. The images are certainly not up to those printed in Maloof's book, "Vivian Maier: Street Photographer ", in terms of image impact. Also, "Out of the Shadows" comes up short in printing quality; the images are not printed to same standards as they were in the Maloof book.
"Out of the Shadows" does fill out some of the mysteries of Vivian Maier...where she was born, her upbringing, her lifestyle, and her love of recording the daily activities in her life. To that extent this book accomplishes its goal. By bringing Maier out of the shadows, it fills in and nicely dovetails with Maloof's work.
In conclusion, if you wish to add just one Vivian Maier book to your library, I would choose "Vivian Maier: Street Photographer " and skip "Out of the Shadows."
"Out of the Shadows" does fill out some of the mysteries of Vivian Maier...where she was born, her upbringing, her lifestyle, and her love of recording the daily activities in her life. To that extent this book accomplishes its goal. By bringing Maier out of the shadows, it fills in and nicely dovetails with Maloof's work.
In conclusion, if you wish to add just one Vivian Maier book to your library, I would choose "Vivian Maier: Street Photographer " and skip "Out of the Shadows."
peter_n
Mentor
Please consider re-posting this in the latest additions to your library thread which is where most RFF book reviews/comments appear.
Tijmendal
Young photog
Thanks for this.
I had been considering buying this book. I'll have to keep an eye out for Maloof's book. I'm infatuated with her photography. It's so great.
I had been considering buying this book. I'll have to keep an eye out for Maloof's book. I'm infatuated with her photography. It's so great.
peter_n
Mentor
@ kkdanamatt: Thanks for re-posting in the "latest additions to your library" thread. You might be interested in a couple of contra views of her second book from Kenneth Tanaka and Robin Benson. Tanaka's review is a bit extreme, almost as if he had an axe to grind.
FWIW I also wrote briefly about both books when they were first published and also preferred the first book: Street Photographer, Out of the Shadows.
FWIW I also wrote briefly about both books when they were first published and also preferred the first book: Street Photographer, Out of the Shadows.
van_d
Established
Interesting. I didn't know a second book was made about her already. But based on the review and the fact that it's double what I paid for her "debut" photo book, I'll pass for now, although she is probably in my top 3 for photography and is the person that got me into street photography. I always thought the next book of her work would focus on the next part of her photography, like when she went to colour (guessing Kodachrome?) and seemed to ditch the Rollei for 35mm cameras in the late '60s or '70s. I'm also still waiting on Maloof's film about Vivian, originally to be done early 2012.