Sean Kennedy Santos here , I just came across your work through ‘ A Photo Editor ‘ blog & saw ‘ A life alone ‘ . Then followed the work like an Alice In Wonderland through the keyhole of time & emotion .
I’m blown away by this body of incomprehensible truth & stunning profound beauty you tell not just in some works but ALL of them .

Not since meeting James Nachtwey & Eugene Richards on Fat Baby have I witnessed such a breadth of great work .

I’m very , very impressed , it takes REAL courage in these turbulent times when news papers are folding & photojournalism is being rapidly replaced by what I call ‘ Simple minded – junk media ‘ Glossy celeb mags with no substance .

Your work brings back to earth a sense of realism & definition missed in journalism today & I truly hope to see MORE of this wonderful spirit in photography you provide to other photographers who respect such greatness in the images you continue to provide .

Thanks Maisie . Inspirational is not even close enough to say how wonderful your vision is , in capturing the essence of ‘ Life’ .

I wish you much continued success in ALL your endeavours .

Ps – if things get tough @ the Globe or you find yourself needing more in life from your own art , I’d be more than happy to make recommendations to people in the know @ the NY times & other fine institutions that I feel would strongly benefit from such a talented woman / artist as yourself .
The work in ‘ Love me ‘ about Autumn series leaves me lost for words … Simply BRILLIANT . Wow what a gift you have . If you EVER need help from a fellow photographer all you need do is ask . It’s there for the giving .

All the best . Sean Kennedy Santos

If you want move on in your life you have to grieve.

In this instance yes Maisie is a photographer, but it is the production that is really important. This is as you say a film and it is this that we should be judging first and foremost.

I think the photo community has a set of blinders on when it comes to the fact that this kind of work is nothing new. New to the still community yes, but to call it photography is a bit of misnomer because at this point its really film making isn’t it?

So in regards to Alex Soth’s comment about photography lacking in its ability to tell a story (a whole other can of worms), can you really defend this as photography if its appropriating all the aspects of film making? And to call the person behind it a “photographer?” I think the title filmmaker would be more applicable.

Although technically if its all shot digitally on a still camera, how can it be called film making? So down the rabbit hole we go.

Just trying to raise the issues in a tone of questioning, not necessarily criticizing; and perhaps just beating beating a dead horse over the head in the process.

Perhaps I should have said it twice since apparently people don’t like to read things the first time. Obviously I qualified my statements about possible manipulation in my original post.

This is not a documentary. I’m sure you think it is, but believe me, it’s not. This is Photo Journalism that I happen to dislike. Stop being so condescending to anyone with a differing opinion and calling people amateurs who may very well have much more experience than you. This is a blog made for intelligent conversation not a playground.

I think I’ll leave before I lose my lunch money…

a) Yes – I am arrogant and elitist. So what’s your point?
b) My not thinking this piece is the greatest thing since sliced bread has absolutely nothing to do with the previous sentence.
c) Hopefully, we will all continually mature. If not, you’re dead.
d) Your feeble attempts at insults are, well…feeble.
e) I suggest you learn what libel really is.

To Jonathan:

I am not belittling anyone or their experience for being a student. The reason for my reaction to this piece are a bit more substantial than that.

I understand where you are coming from with the tongue in the cheek comment….but I did worry about saying something like that but I hate it when someone tries to discount something by saying it’s a “student project” Maisie has worked as a Pro at newspapers and went back to get her Master’s….and now her previous experience is being belittled because she is a student…..Today’s Multimedia is a new genre so I think we are all currently students to this type of storytelling.

That’s what great photojournalism is all about. Don’t be surprised that this little story will spur larger stories from the media….all because Maisie made us wake up and look around and made us care.

I’m sorry but dismissing the story as a “student project” is arrogant and elitist….just wait and you will see how a “student” will be heralded my her peers and gets the recognition this piece deserves.

Concerning the subject…..it sounded like he willingly told his story. The talent to gain trust and access with your subject is to often overlooked. It looks to me that Maisie has this talent, and its a skill greater than photography that will help separate her from most photographers working today.

Concerning the photographs themselves, I love how she made me look at options beyond the typical “details” or subject images. Never would I have photographed a sheet as a detail but as the piece progresses the simple image of the flower print on the bed sheet means more than I ever realized. A photograph of the window with the sheer curtain somehow works….and a still of the sink faucet that turns into a video as the water drips…..quite images that provides impact throughout the piece….

Maisie pushes me to see the story beyond what I usually see photographically and I thank her for that…..Maisie also opened up my eyes to the struggle the older generation battle with when they lose a life long partner…..and I thank her more for that, than anything else.

Maisie has left a lasting impact and that is all I hope for in my photography career.

Jonathan

For an insight and education into how a documentary maker like Maisie works, its well worth taking the time out to read her thoughts on Brent Foster’s excellent blog Visual Journalist.

http://visualjournalist.org/?p=49

Nathan wrote: ‘Is this kind of work really worth breaking a man down to tears and then leaving him with no hope left? I should think that you would not appreciate someone showing up at your grandfather’s doorstep, manipulating him when he is most vulnerable, and then leaving him to his tears and isolation.’

Debra Weiss Responded: ‘@nathan, I agree with you.’

Libel is ‘if someone thinks that what you wrote about them is either defamatory or damaging, the onus will be entirely on you to prove that your comments are true in court.’

Writing that a journalist manipulated a subject to get a feature is defamatory and therefore libel.

Perhaps Debra you might think for a moment about what you’re agreeing with before doing so publicly?

But don’t worry, its an amateurs mistake.