Mary Ellen Mark

"I just think it's important to be direct and honest with people about why you're photographing them and what you're doing. After all, you are taking some of their soul, and I think you have to be clear about that." - Mary Ellen Mark

'Reality' is the key thing that I find most interesting about Mary Ellen Mark's work, and the way in which she conveys the truth about her subject. Similar to Bruce Davidson's style, her photographs look much like a social documentary genre, however, the suggestion of control over the scenarios that she captures, is shown by the use of eye contact from her subjects, and the clever use of composition that works so well. 

In her work, Mark has confronted many social issues such as homelessness, poverty, drug addiction and prostitution, some of which may be suggested in the images above. Again, I think it is the use of black and white with a high contrast in her work that gives it a real 'edge' and truth, suggesting that not everything is how it seems. Although these photographs are not located within the 'working environment' that I have chosen to study, I still find them inspiring as they manage to convey to the viewer a narrative about these people, and just by looking at them and into their eyes, we understand a little more about their thoughts and feelings.