Farewell Marianna

Artist Marianna Hofer in her Jones Building studio, Findlay, OH. Hasselblad + Polaroid Sepia

A very talented film photographer and poet, Ms. Marianna Hofer, died yesterday. To anyone regular to Findlay, OH, Marianna was hard to miss. Rain, snow, or shine, she was out walking up and down Main St. to her studio at the Jones Building. You could always spot her from the rest of the crowd, marching back and forth in a long sleeve top and billowy, flower print skirt. Accompanying her almost always was her Meopta Flexaret TLR and a roll of 120 B&W. 

While we weren't that close, hearing of Marianna's passing still hit hard. She was a fellow creative, and in my opinion, one of the best kind. In the short time I got to spend with Marianna, there were always laughs and photography tips shared. Recently, when trying to describe Marianna's personality, I found myself comparing her to Lily Tomlin's character Frankie on the Netflix comedy "Grace and Frankie". She made work that she loved, and to hell with the rest. She was never in it to impress anyone, but always looking for cool new places to shoot.

Thanks for everything Marianna, and most of all, thanks for letting me take that portrait of you in your studio. Rest in peace.