Mary Ellen Mark

Date of Birth: March 20, 1940

Zodiac Sign: Pisces

Date of Death: May 25, 2015

Biography

Mary Ellen Mark was an American photographer renowned for her photojournalism, documentary photography, and portraiture. Her work often focused on people on the fringes of society. Over her career, she published 18 books and her photographs have been exhibited worldwide. Mark’s work has been featured in publications such as Life, Rolling Stone, The New Yorker, and Vanity Fair, among others. She is known for her compassionate approach and intimate portrayal of her subjects, bringing visibility to those who are often overlooked by mainstream society. Mary Ellen Mark received numerous awards and accolades, including three fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Infinity Award for Journalism from the International Center of Photography.

5 Interesting Facts about Mary Ellen Mark

1. Mark earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting and art history from the University of Pennsylvania in 1962.

2. She was a member of Magnum Photos from 1977 to 1981 before founding her own agency.

3. Her project “Streetwise,” which documented the lives of homeless youth in Seattle, was turned into an Academy Award-nominated film.

4. Mary Ellen Mark taught photography workshops around the world, sharing her expertise and passion with aspiring photographers.

5. She received a George W. Polk Award for her photo-essay on the mental institution Ward 81.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Mary Ellen Mark

1. “Photograph the world as it is. Nothing’s more interesting than reality.”

2. “I would rather pull a rusty nail out of a board with my teeth than write a proposal.”

3. “I don’t think there’s anything worse than being ordinary.”

4. “You can’t photograph if you’re not in love.”

5. “My ultimate goal is to try to make people look at something the way they haven’t looked at it before.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Mary Ellen Mark’s highest net worth achieved is estimated to have been around $2 million.

Children

Mary Ellen Mark did not have any biological children. However, she was married to filmmaker Martin Bell, with whom she collaborated on several projects.