Of course, she could have gone to the beautiful corners of the city for the photo report for “Life” magazine, after all, Seattle had just been voted the most livable city in America at the time and was rich in boulevards. But as always, the young photojournalist sought out the less illuminated neighborhoods, with their boulevards of broken dreams, and found a group of problematic young people who had run away from home and were vegetating as prostitutes, homeless people or drug dealers.
She called the project “Streetwise” and was later made into a film by her husband, director Martin Bell, and was nominated for an Oscar as a documentary about people on the margins of society. There are stories about people like Tiny, whose real name was Erin Blackwell, that Mary Ellen Mark wanted to tell photographically. Her approach was always sensitive and respectful.
View was “never voyeuristic”
For decades, Mary Ellen Mark accompanied the girl Tiny as she matured into a woman, accompanied her over many valleys and up to her tenth child, and captured everything on camera. What was seen was a woman clearly marked by life, but who never lost her dignity: “Mary Ellen Mark’s gaze was always humanistic, never voyeuristic. She never took photos from above. On the contrary: with her photographs she wanted to show how quickly it can happen that one is no longer on the sunny side of life,” explains Fabian Knierim, curator of the Mary Ellen Mark exhibition at the “Westlicht” gallery in Vienna. The 48-year-old has viewed 100 photographs, but one is his favorite photo: “Tiny in a Halloween costume”. On the one hand, the then 14-year-old seemed incredibly vulnerable, but on the other hand, she also had the aura: Stay away from me,” explains Knierim. “Mary Ellen Mark had the ability to get really close to people,” he says.
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Self-portrait by Mary Ellen Mark
© Mary Ellen Mark Foundation
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How did Mary Ellen Mark’s decision to co-found Archive Pictures and favor licensing over commissions empower photographers?
## A Conversation with a Streetwise Witness
**(Host):** Welcome back to the show. Today, we’re diving into the powerful stories captured by renowned photojournalist Mary Ellen Mark. Joining us is Alex Reed, an expert on Mark’s life and work.
Alex Reed, let’s start with Mark’s iconic photo essay “Streetwise.” What led her to focus on the marginalized youth of Seattle?
**(Alex Reed):** Thank you for having me. Mary Ellen Mark had a unique empathy for the overlooked and vulnerable. While Seattle was being hailed as America’s “most livable city,” she chose to shine a light on its less glamorous side. She found these young runaways, facing homelessness, prostitution, and drug abuse, and saw their stories as deserving to be told. It wasn’t about sensationalism for her; it was about human connection. [[1](https://projectonfamilyhomelessness.org/2016/10/13/the-woman-behind-streetwise-exploring-the-work-of-mary-ellen-mark/)]
**(Host):** Her approach has been described as “sensitive and respectful.” How did she achieve that in such challenging situations?
**(Alex Reed):** You see it in her photographs. They’re stark and unflinching, yet there’s a sense of dignity and compassion in every shot.
She built trust with her subjects, like Tiny (Erin Blackwell), whom she followed for decades. It wasn’t just a photo shoot for her; it was a long-term commitment to understanding these individuals and their experiences.
**(Host):** “Streetwise” eventually became an Oscar-nominated documentary directed by Mark’s husband, Martin Bell.
How did this project further amplify the voices of these teenagers?
**(Alex Reed):** The film took the powerful stills from “Streetwise” and brought them to life. It gave viewers not just images but a glimpse into the lives, dreams, and struggles of these young people. It was a testament to Mark’s ability to see beyond the labels and recognize the humanity within.
**(Host):** Mary Ellen Mark’s work went beyond “Streetwise.” What are some other key contributions she made to documentary photography?
**(Alex Reed):** Well, she challenged the traditional model of how photographers worked.
She co-founded Archive Pictures, which empowered photographers to own their photos and control their work. She also favored licensing images after photoshoots rather than working on commission. This gave her more creative freedom. [ [1](https://projectonfamilyhomelessness.org/2016/10/13/the-woman-behind-streetwise-exploring-the-work-of-mary-ellen-mark/)]
**(Host):** Mary Ellen Mark’s legacy is one of empathy, courage, and a relentless pursuit of truth.
Thank you for sharing your insights on her remarkable life and work.
