Mary Ellen Mark on the Portrait and the Moment

In the fourth installment of The Photography Workshop Series, Mary Ellen Mark—well-known for her portraits of emotional power—offers her insight on observing the world and capturing dramatic moments that reveal more than the reality at hand. In this series, Aperture works with the world’s top photographers to distill their creative approaches, teachings, and insights on photography—offering the workshop experience in a book. Our goal is to inspire photographers of all levels who wish to improve their work, as well as readers interested in deepening their understanding of the art of photography. Through words and pictures, Mark shares her own creative process and discusses a wide range of issues, such as gaining the trust of the subject, taking pictures that are controlled but unforced, and organizing the frame so that every part contributes toward telling the story.