"PHOTOGRAPHERS DON'T GROW OLD- THEY JUST GROW OUT OF FOCUS"
-Marilyn Stafford
Stafford first used a camera to take a portrait photo of Albert Einstein, in 1948 at the age of 23. She was taught how to use a camera in the backseat of a car on the way to him, with her friends. They were interviewing him for a documentary they were making and needed a portrait too. After this, she wished to gain experience in photography. She worked as an assistant to fashion photographer, Francesco Scavullo. She moved to Paris with a friend in 1948 and became friends with war photographer,
|
In 1958 she travelled to Tunisia to document and announce the journey of Algerian refugees as they flee from the attack of the Algerian war, when she arrived home in Paris Cartier-Bresson sent a selection of her photos to The Observer. They published 2 of her images on their front page. In contrast, she also worked on fashion photography in Paris with a public relations agency, experimenting with different types of clothing. During that time custom-fitted clothing would usually be modelled in lavish surroundings to convey a sense of luxury and wealth. However, Stafford pushed the boundaries of fashion photography and documentary photography.
|