We lost an important artist on Monday (May 25th):  Photographer MARY ELLEN MARK died at age 75.  

Her name may or may not sound familiar, but many of her images, mainly of people all over the work taken as they live and capturing the intensity, drama, and humor that goes with it, will be recognized.  A few may be seen HERE.

She came up at a time when big, national magaizines (like LIFE and VANITY FAIR) needed and hired photographers.  Times have changed, but artists like Mark have continued.  

She likely came to the attention of most after photographing heroine addicts in London in the late 60s, and has since captured her vision of the human condition all over the world.  She published 18 books, and her exhibitions are almost countless.  Biographical material abounds.  

Mark did the photography for a 1983 LIFE magazine article about children on the streets of Seattle.  Following that, Mark worked with her husband, film maker and director Martin Bell, to do a documentary film that followed the lives of several homeless kids with whom Mark connected while shooting the LIFE magazine article.  The entire film STREETWISE can be seen on YouTube