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A Pre-Blogosphere Photo Blogger

October 13, 2008 by WendyB

I was fascinated by yesterday’s New York Times story on artist Jamie Livingston, who took a Polaroid every day for 18 years. He started in 1979 when he was 22 and continued up to (and including) Oct. 25, 1997, when he died of cancer on his 41st birthday.

Livingston’s Polaroid from August 31, 1997

Livingston’s friends Hugh Crawford and Betsy Reid scanned and organized all 6,000 photos, which can be seen here.

An August story in The Guardian about Livingston was very informative and moving. I especially loved this anecdote:

“…the plan was to take one picture and keep it no matter how it turned out. Once they found themselves walking with circus elephants through the heart of New York, late at night. Crawford turned to his friend and suggested this could be the picture of the day. ‘He was like, “No, I took a picture of my lunch, it’s already been taken,”‘ laughs Crawford.”

The first photo

Check out Jamie Livingston’s Photo of the Day. I warn you that you’ll feel shame if you’ve missed a day of blogging due to a cold or hangover after you see Livingston’s photos from October 1997.

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Filed Under: art, In the News

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. * Fashion Dreamer * says

    October 13, 2008 at 12:32 pm

    Wow…thanks for sharing this Wendy! I’m going to spend an obscene amount of time trawling through the pics then wondering why I haven’t done something like this before, sounds like an amazing project.It’s a pity they’re not making polariod anymore

  2. La Belette Rouge says

    October 13, 2008 at 12:34 pm

    I wonder if his daily photographs came out of a prescient knowing that he would not live long—sort of treasuring and capturing of each day. A very moving collection of photos that seem to have an intrinsic moral of valuing what is and not trying to change it.
    Thanks for sharing this!

  3. KD says

    October 13, 2008 at 12:34 pm

    Heh heh . . . I already feel guilty about being a bad blogger! I love those photos. I love Polaroids – instant gratification!

  4. Sharon Rose says

    October 13, 2008 at 12:48 pm

    Hi there-Polaroids were an excellent invention, its a shame that everythings all digital now. A great post.

  5. Make Do and Mend says

    October 13, 2008 at 12:57 pm

    I love the elephant anecdote!

  6. K.Line says

    October 13, 2008 at 1:07 pm

    Lord these are fabulous. Very moving. His final photo captures the transition to death so intently.

  7. ash says

    October 13, 2008 at 1:25 pm

    Thanks for sharing!
    This is amazing!
    xoxo
    ash

  8. Emily says

    October 13, 2008 at 2:23 pm

    this is such a touching story. it’s so moving to know that he had so many wonderful things to document his life, even though it was cut far too short.

  9. Hot Bot says

    October 13, 2008 at 3:49 pm

    Thanks for sharing this! Fascinating story.

  10. Miss Karen says

    October 13, 2008 at 4:00 pm

    This is such an incredible story. I’ll definitely be checking him out!

    PS. Your post below made me lol and lol and lol.

  11. Prunella Jones says

    October 13, 2008 at 4:32 pm

    Cool. I clicked over and saw a picture of (him?) in a Residents costume. That takes me back.

  12. atelier says

    October 13, 2008 at 4:56 pm

    this story is so amazing! I love this post, thanks for sharing

  13. THE HOUSE OF STYLE says

    October 13, 2008 at 5:52 pm

    wow this is a beautiful story to share Wendy! I had never heard of him so I was so inspired by it all. I love polaroids and that he took one a day for so many years…. amazing! thank you for sharing this hon.he is so inspiring.
    kisses dear!
    marian

  14. SnapandPrint says

    October 13, 2008 at 6:58 pm

    I may not fashion blog every day but I have a perosnal blog that I update almost every day.

    I amdire that he took a photo everyday…even when terribly ill. I tend to withdraw on days I am ill and when I am traveling I have no internet hook-up (since I do not own a laptop) but he still stuck to taking photos…that is admirable.

  15. enc says

    October 13, 2008 at 7:56 pm

    This is very cool. I will go check the links.

  16. ambika says

    October 13, 2008 at 8:23 pm

    My boyfriend showed this to me a few weeks back and those last photos were the first thing that got my attention. Just heart wrenching.

  17. Lynette says

    October 13, 2008 at 9:59 pm

    I had to look at the photo that he took on April 14, 1983, the day my husband LeRoy died. What an interesting story you’ve given me a chance to experience–thanks, WendyB.

  18. Songy says

    October 13, 2008 at 10:00 pm

    What an achievement. I wish I could leave some memorable legacy like this … Thank you for sharing this.

  19. WendyB says

    October 13, 2008 at 10:00 pm

    Lynette, I was particularly thinking of you when I posted this.

  20. Songy says

    October 13, 2008 at 10:05 pm

    Another thought, with the widespread use of digital camera capturing an image for a day loses the novelty. Things are too easy. Is it just me missing the old ways?

  21. WendyB says

    October 13, 2008 at 10:07 pm

    Songy, I often think of that actually. I remember so well traveling and having to be very careful about what I took a picture of because I only had 26 frames or whatever.

  22. Kitt says

    October 14, 2008 at 12:42 am

    Wow, that’s awesome. Thanks for posting about it.

  23. Shaz says

    October 14, 2008 at 5:51 am

    it takes a true artist to think of dedicating everyday of his life to doing something like this. He died so young but will be remebered.

  24. the iron chic says

    October 14, 2008 at 6:13 am

    I almost cried just now looking at those………

  25. Always In Style says

    October 14, 2008 at 8:14 am

    I nearly broke down too…I’ll have to explore those pics even more but just wanted to say thanks for posting – I hadn’t heard about this but I love the idea.

  26. Raquel says

    October 15, 2008 at 10:59 am

    this is amazing… i’m definitely crying at my desk. so simple but so moving.

  27. Moira says

    October 16, 2008 at 8:19 am

    Speechless.

  28. Isabel says

    October 16, 2008 at 11:29 am

    That. is. amazing.

  29. katrocket says

    August 24, 2009 at 7:49 am

    Wow, incredible story, and very inspiring. Thank you for sharing this with me, WendyB.

  30. tiffany says

    January 18, 2010 at 11:57 am

    amazing. thanks for sharing the link. I am saving it so I can look through all the photos when I have time.

    i thought one year was tough but man 22 years! That’s dedication. so admirable. and the photos are so moving.

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MEET WENDY BRANDES

Award-winning designer of fine jewelry inspired by women's history and pop culture. A former journalist who writes about jewelry, fashion, medieval history, news, feminism, dogs, cats and whatever else is on her mind. Blogging since 2007.
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