A4 L AT I ME S .

CO M

Her lens saw a lifetime of change thought Piaf was rather

A chance encounter wonderful. She was very
down-to-earth. She loved
with Einstein began love,” Stafford said.
Marilyn Stafford’s Stafford eventually had
to give up the cabaret job be-
remarkable career. cause she lost her voice.
“I think I lost my voice be-
By Kim Willsher cause I really didn’t want to
be a singer, but I really didn’t
WEST SUSSEX, Eng- know what I was going to do
land — In 1948, Marilyn to earn a living,” she said.
Stafford, a young aspiring In Paris, Stafford had
actress in New York City, been introduced to the now-
tagged along with two iconic photographers
friends who traveled to Robert Capa and Henri
Princeton to film a docu- Cartier-Bresson, founders
mentary about Albert Ein- of the Magnum Photos
stein. agency, so she mentioned to
As they pulled up in front Capa that she would like to
of Einstein’s New Jersey try her hand at photogra-
home, one of the friends phy. He suggested she work
tossed a 35-millimeter cam- with his Magnum co-found-
era to Stafford, sitting in the er David Seymour, known as
rear seat. “Here. You take “Chim,” who was working for
some stills while we film,” he U.S. magazines, including
told her. Life.
Stafford was nervous — “I said no. Both Chim and
she had no experience tak- Capa were working in war
ing photographs — but Ein- zones, and I didn’t want to go
stein put them at ease. to war. As we know, both
“He was absolutely were later killed in war
lovely,” she recalled. “He met zones,” she said. (Capa died
us at the door and there was in Indochina in 1954, Sey-
really no fuss. He was mour in the Suez War two
dressed in baggy pants and a years later.)
sweatshirt. He was com- Instead, she went into
pletely at ease and made us public relations. During a
feel the same. My friends Lynn Hilton For The Times stint with a fashion com-
filmed him, he talked and I STAFFORD, now 92 and retired in England, photographed decades of fashion, social change and celebrities. pany, in the late 1950s,
snapped.” Stafford was asked to take
The result, a series of pictures of a new trend:
grainy portraits of the theo- ready-to-wear. Stafford in-
retical physicist, was to sisted on taking models out
mark the accidental start of of their gilded haute couture
a unique career for Ohio- houses to be pictured in the
born Stafford, though she streets and boulevards —
didn’t know it at the time. unheard-of at the time.
Over the decades, untold “I took the models out on
numbers of magazine read- the streets, because I love
ers would see her photo- the streets. I didn’t care so
graphs, even if they had no much about the clothes, but
idea she was the one behind I loved the streets,” she said.
the lens. Today, at 92, After marrying British
Stafford, a discreet and self- newspaper foreign corre-
effacing woman, is being spondent Robin Stafford,
drawn out of obscurity be- she turned her lenses on
cause of her extraordinary Paris slums and traveled to
portfolio that highlights so- North Africa to photograph
cial change in the 20th cen- refugees fleeing government
tury, as well of some of her repression in Algeria, then a
era’s biggest celebrities and French colony. Her pictures
world leaders. of refugees living in tents
The Lucy Bell Gallery, a pitched in an arid landscape
few miles from her seaside capture their hardships but
home in West Sussex on also their determination
Britain’s southern coast, or- and dignity.
ganized an exhibition of her “At the heart of it is how I
works this year in London; saw the world around me,”
this followed an exhibition at she said. “Even when I was
the Alliance Francaise To- taking photographs to earn
ronto, a Canadian cultural a living, I saw and felt things
institute. The Observer, re- Marilyn Stafford Marilyn Stafford that I believed needed to
viewing the London exhib- HER CASUAL portraits of Albert Einstein turned EDITH PIAF became a friend and subject of more change so intensely and
ition, said the photographs out to be her first job. “He talked and I snapped.” off-the-cuff images, many shot at the singer’s home. would ask myself, ‘How can I
“depict a century of change, help make it better?’”
from shifting dress shapes to but it’s only now people are Shirley Temple…. We all In the mid-1960s, Stafford
the impact of world con- beginning to sit up and take went to elocution lessons and her husband went sepa-
flicts.” notice of her,” she said. and learned to tap dance,” rate ways — she and their
“They are also proof,” it Stafford’s photographs Stafford said. young daughter to London,
added, “of the long and var- are black and white, but her “I grew up during the De- he to Moscow.
ied life of a unique artist.” life could hardly have been pression, and from an early “I was really on my own. I
The Marilyn Stafford more colorful. age I was aware of the bread had to earn a living with a
FotoReportage Award was Growing up in Cleveland, lines and the great migra- young child, so I did whatev-
launched on International she was encouraged by her tions of people as shown in er I could: PR, photography,
Women’s Day 2017 to encour- mother and pharmacist fa- the photographs of Doro- news assignments,” she
age young female photogra- ther to study drama and was thea Lange, which influen- said.
phers. one of the first members of ced me tremendously, and One evening, after ac-
Lucy Bell, owner of the the Cleveland Play House’s the suffering of refugees cepting a dinner invitation
gallery, said Stafford’s children’s group, the Cur- who’d fled Germany before from friends, Stafford found
photographs are a time cap- tain Pullers, along with Joel the Second World War.” herself dining with actor Lee
sule. Grey and Paul Newman. The images of poverty Marvin.
“It is all really new mate- “It was the era of Shirley and misery from that time “We hit it off and struck
rial; things haven’t been Temple — every parent haunted her and influenced up a great friendship, a
properly recorded before, wanted their kid to be her later work. “I wanted to lovely friendship. I remem-
bring attention to people ber once we were talking
who were suffering,” she about the film ‘Paint Your
said. “I felt that if only people Wagon’ and I said I hadn’t
knew about a situation, then seen it, so he took off his
How to contact us something could be done to boots and sang the whole of
change it.” ‘Wandering Star’ to me. It
(800) LA TIMES
At 23, still hoping to make was so sweet.”
a name on the stage, In 1972, she was commis-
Home Delivery and Advertising Stafford moved to New York sioned to document Indian
Membership Program For print and online
For questions about delivery, advertising information, go to but soon afterward traveled Prime Minister Indira Gan-
billing and vacation holds, or latimes.com/mediakit or call to Paris, where in 1949 she Marilyn Stafford dhi at home and on a tour of
for information about our (213) 237-6176. joined a cabaret ensemble “AT THE HEART of it is how I saw the world around India. Stafford was so enam-
Membership program, please singing at Chez Carrere, a me,” Stafford says of her work in Paris and abroad. ored of India she returned
contact us at (213) 283-2274 or Reprint Requests
membershipservices@ For the rights to use articles, classy dining club off the several times for different
latimes.com. You can also photos, graphics and page Champs-Elysées. Roosevelt, Edith Piaf and boulangerie. Bing was mar- assignments.
manage your account at reproductions, e-mail
reprint@latimes.com or call “The French capital was Charles Aznavour. ried, but we became good Then the digital age of
myaccount.latimes.com. still recovering from the “There were Paris night- friends, and we stayed the 1980s arrived, and
(213) 237-4565.
Letters to the Editor wartime Nazi occupation clubs, and there was Chez friends for many years,” she Stafford hung up her now-
Want to write a letter to be Times In Education
To get The Times, and our and full of U.S. expats with Carrere. It was the place to said. outdated cameras and re-
published in the paper and
online? E-mail newspaper-based teaching more arriving every day. If be.” Stafford often carried her tired into the shadows of the
letters@latimes.com. materials, delivered to you had American dollars, She also met Bing Rolleiflex camera and took southern England seaside.
For submission guidelines, your classroom at no cost, which we changed on the Crosby. off-the-cuff snaps of her new Serving tea and cakes at
see latimes.com/letters. contact us at latimes.com/tie
or call (213) 237-2915. black market, it was very “He was very ‘correct,’ as friends. Many were taken at her pretty terraced home,
Readers’ Representative cheap living in France at the the French say, but I knew he Piaf ’s Parisian home, where she seems acutely embar-
If you believe we have The Newsroom time,” she said. “Looking was fond of me. I was living the star and her entourage rassed to be talking about
made an error, or you have Have a story tip or
suggestion? Go to a back, it was a fantastically at the time in a little ground- would return for breakfast herself. Few, if any, of her
questions about our
journalistic standards newsroom directory at exciting time to be young floor studio with another after a night at Chez Car- neighbors know of the ex-
and practices, our readers’ latimes.com/staff or and single.” American girl, and he used rere. traordinary life and career
representative can be latimes.com/newstips or call
(213) 237-7001.
At Chez Carrere, Stafford to come along every Sunday “I wasn’t doing it profes- of the small but elegant
reached at met the wealthy and fa- morning having bought sionally. I wasn’t even think- woman who now lives alone
readers.representative Media Relations
@latimes.com, (877) 554-4000 mous, including Eleanor croissants from the local ing as a photographer. I with her ginger tomcat,
For outside media requests
or online at and inquiries, e-mail Josh.
latimes.com/readersrep. commsdept@latimes.com. “I stopped when it all be-
Tours came digital. I do still have
L.A. Times Store
Schedule a tour of our my cameras, but I don’t
facilities. Call (213) 237-5757.
Search archives, merchandise
and front pages at
FOR THE RECORD really miss taking pictures.
latimes.com/store. Every once in a while I see
Wildfires: In the Dec. 8 Dec. 8 Calendar section, a “We export it, we sell it, but something and I think, I
Section A, an article about caption for a photo accom- we don’t use it.” really wish I had my camera,
A Tribune Publishing Company Newspaper Daily Founded Dec. 4, 1881 the wildfires burning in panying a review of Gregory but my focus is now on the
Vol. CXXXVII No. 6 Ventura County and else- Porter’s performance at the If you believe that we have [FotoReportage] Award,”
LOS ANGELES TIMES (ISSN 0458-3035) Print-only rates: Seven-day $814.32 where in Southern Califor- Theatre at Ace Hotel mis- made an error, or you have she said. “It’s possible I
annually. Thursday–Sunday $502.32
is published by the Los Angeles Times,
annually. Saturday & Sunday $294.32
nia referred to Ojai-area spelled bassist Jahmal questions about The Times’ might if I had the right proj-
202 W. 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Periodicals postage is paid at Los Angeles, annually. Thursday & Sunday $294.32 resident Jordan Schmidt as Nichols’ first name as Ja- journalistic standards and ect, but I think one needs a
CA, and additional cities. annually. Sunday $190.32 annually.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Monday–Saturday $624 annually (also Eric Schmidt. mal. practices, you may contact fresh eye, a fresh vision.”
the above address. includes Sundays, except 3/26, 5/28, 9/3, Deirdre Edgar, readers’ She seems genuinely sur-
Home Delivery Subscription Rates (all rates and 10/29). Monday–Friday $520 annually.
include applicable CA sales taxes and apply Pricing for all subscriptions includes the Newport boat parade: In “The Shape of Water”: In representative, by email at prised anyone is interested
to most areas) Thanksgiving 11/23 issue.
All subscriptions may include up to two
the Nov. 26 Travel section, the Dec. 8 Calendar section, readers.representative in her and her many boxes of
Print + unlimited digital rates: Seven-day
$15/week, $780 annually. Thursday–Sunday Premium Issues per year. For each Premium the Tip Sheet gave incorrect a review of the film “The @latimes.com, by phone at photos.
issue, your account balance will be charged
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Sunday $4/week, $208 annually. Thursday an additional fee up to $4.49 in the billing dates for the Newport Shape of Water” misattrib- (877) 554-4000, by fax at With a shake of her head,
& Sunday $4/week, $208 annually. Sunday period when the section publishes. This will Beach Christmas Boat Pa- uted a line of dialogue. It is (213) 237-3535 or by mail at she said, “Oh, the wonderful
$4/week, $208 annually. Monday–Saturday result in shortening the length of your billing
$6.42/week, $333.84 annually (also period. Premium issues scheduled to date: rade. The parade will be the character General Hoyt 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, memories I have. Life has
includes Sundays, except 3/26, 5/28, 9/3, Year in Review 12/31/17, Dodger/2018
Baseball Preview 3/25/18. Dates are subject
held nightly Wednesday to (played by Nick Searcy) — CA 90012. The readers’ been good to me.”
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Strickland (Michael Shan- online at latimes.com/ Willsher is a special
Printed with soy-based ink on recycled newsprint from wood byproducts.
Jahmal Nichols: In the non) — who says of decency, readersrep. correspondent.