Politics, People, & Change

In the early 1980s, Marilyn's portrait and documentary styles of shooting piqued the interest of periodicals such as Atlanta Magazine, Georgia Business, Style Magazine, and many others. Atlanta was starting to move from a predominantly "White" government and political base to a "Sign Of The Times" Afro-American populace and political movement. In addition to covering Atlanta's political growth spurts, magazine editors wanted to highlight the changes taking place in Atlanta's numerous and distinctive neighborhoods, businesses, and residents.

As the saying goes, "a picture is worth a thousand words."

The editors and writers began relying on Marilyn to bring their articles to life visually with her own style. From political figures to Supreme Court Judges, movers and shakers, people in power to people on the margins, from famous to the infamous, Marilyn supplied hundreds of photographs for over 56 magazines, annual reports, non-profits, and corporate publications. Her images added recognition, emotion, humor, or visible proof to the written words.

The articles in these publications, coupled with Marilyn's own photo documentaries, represent over three decades of Atlanta's history and the stories of many of its citizens.

  • Congressman John Lewis.jpg

    Congressman John Lewis, 2003

  • Jane Fonda-3.jpg

    Jane Fonda, 1985

  • Jane fonda-4.jpg

    Rosa Parks and Jane Fonda, 1985

  • rosa parks & jane fonda004.jpg

    Rosa Parks, Jane Fonda, and Tom Haden 1985 Black College Day at Woodruff Park, Atlanta

  • Michelle Obama.jpg

    Michelle Obama

  • shirley franklin001.jpg

    Mayor Shirley Franklin for Best of Atlanta in Atlanta Magazine

  • mspor043.jpg

    Newt Gingrich, 2000 - Business to Business Magazine

  • roy Barnes.jpg

    Governor Roy Barnes, 2000

  • ralph reed.jpg

    Ralph Reed, 2000 - Business to Business Magazine

  • leah ward sears007.jpg

    Judge Leah Ward Sears

  • judge leah ward sears.jpg

    Judge Leah Ward Sears

  • msjisackson1a.jpg

    Senator Johnny Isaackson, 2001 - Business to Business Magazine

  • gorby and carter 1983.jpg

    Jimmy Carter & Mikhail Gorbachev at the Carter Center, Atlanta

  • Sonya Johnson, Boxing Commissioner

    Sonya Johnson, State Boxing Commissioner, 1995 - Atlanta Magazine

  • Christiane Lauterbach, Food Critic

    Food Critic Christiane Lauterbach, Majestic Diner, 1998

  • Eleanor Ringel, Movie Critic

    Movie Critic Eleanor Ringel, 1998 - Style Magazine

  • Subramonian Shankar, CEO, American Megatrends

    Subramonian Shankar, President of American Megatrends, 2001 - Atlanta Magazine

  • Auburn Market 1, 1978

    Auburn Market, Atlanta, 1978

  • Auburn Market 2, 1978

    Auburn Market, Atlanta, 1978

  • Hangin' , Little 5 Points, Atlanta, 1978

    Hangin', Little 5 Points, Atlanta, 1978

  • Poster for Union Mission, 1985

    Candler Park, Atlanta, 1985

  • Pawn Shop Owner, Little 5 Points, Atlanta, 1979.

    Pawn Shop Owner, Little 5 Points, Atlanta, 1979

  • Short Order Cooks, Plaza Drugs, Atlanta

    Short Order Cooks, Plaza Drugs, Atlanta

  • Little Five Points, Shoe Shine,28 yrs.

    Shoe Shiner, Little Five Points

  • Waiting, Little 5 Points, Atlanta

    Waiting, Little 5 Points

  • Union Mission, 1982.

    Union Mission, Atlanta, 1982

  • Misfit, Atlanta, 1986.

    Little 5 Points, 1986

  • Colonial Cab Drivers, Little 5 Points

    Colonial Cab Drivers, Little 5 Points

  • Free Hugs, Little Five Points, Atlanta, 1978.

    Free Hugs, Little Five Points, 1978

  • Cashier, Plaza Drugs, Atlanta, 1977.

    Cashier, Plaza Drugs, Atlanta, 1977.

  • Dapper, Little 5 Points, 1985.

    Dapper, Little 5 Points, 1985

  • Hotel Maids, Hyatt Ravinia, 1995.

    Hotel Maids, Hyatt Ravinia, 1995

  • Hotel Maid, Hyatt Ravinia 2, 1995

    Hotel Maid, Hyatt Ravinia, Atlanta, 1995

  • Vivian and Peggy's Salon, Atlanta, 1981

    Vivian and Peggy's Salon, Atlanta, 1981

  • Macy's Cinderella Beauty Salon,  Atlanta,1981

    Virginia Highland, Atlanta, Georgia. 1981

  • Pharmacist, Atlanta, 1977.

    Pharmacist, Little 5 Points, 1977

  • Zesto's

    Zesto's, 1982

  • Soda Counter, Atlanta, 1977.

    Soda Counter, Little Five Points,1978

  • Lesley Ann Potter, former stripper

    Lesley Ann Potter, former stripper, Little Five Points, 1992

  • Mr. Wallace, Fiddle Maker,  Atlanta, 1977

    Mr. Wallace, Fiddle Maker, Atlanta, 1977

  • Atlanta Downtown, 1979

    Atlanta Downtown, 1979

  • Congressman John Lewis.jpg
  • Jane Fonda-3.jpg
  • Jane fonda-4.jpg
  • rosa parks & jane fonda004.jpg
  • Michelle Obama.jpg
  • shirley franklin001.jpg
  • mspor043.jpg
  • roy Barnes.jpg
  • ralph reed.jpg
  • leah ward sears007.jpg
  • judge leah ward sears.jpg
  • msjisackson1a.jpg
  • gorby and carter 1983.jpg
  • Sonya Johnson, Boxing Commissioner
  • Christiane Lauterbach, Food Critic
  • Eleanor Ringel, Movie Critic
  • Subramonian Shankar, CEO, American Megatrends
  • Auburn Market 1, 1978
  • Auburn Market 2, 1978
  • Hangin' , Little 5 Points, Atlanta, 1978
  • Poster for Union Mission, 1985
  • Pawn Shop Owner, Little 5 Points, Atlanta, 1979.
  • Short Order Cooks, Plaza Drugs, Atlanta
  • Little Five Points, Shoe Shine,28 yrs.
  • Waiting, Little 5 Points, Atlanta
  • Union Mission, 1982.
  • Misfit, Atlanta, 1986.
  • Colonial Cab Drivers, Little 5 Points
  • Free Hugs, Little Five Points, Atlanta, 1978.
  • Cashier, Plaza Drugs, Atlanta, 1977.
  • Dapper, Little 5 Points, 1985.
  • Hotel Maids, Hyatt Ravinia, 1995.
  • Hotel Maid, Hyatt Ravinia 2, 1995
  • Vivian and Peggy's Salon, Atlanta, 1981
  • Macy's Cinderella Beauty Salon,  Atlanta,1981
  • Pharmacist, Atlanta, 1977.
  • Zesto's
  • Soda Counter, Atlanta, 1977.
  • Lesley Ann Potter, former stripper
  • Mr. Wallace, Fiddle Maker,  Atlanta, 1977
  • Atlanta Downtown, 1979

MARTA

Marilyn spent several visits during the MARTA rail and building construction, photographing its development. Throughout the 1980s, she would also take the public transit and photograph bus riders and employees.

These are a few shots from her collection.

  • The 16 Noble Bus, Atlanta, 1978.

    The 16 Noble Bus, Atlanta, 1978

  • marta019.jpg

    Transit Police

  • decatur station015.jpg

    Decatur Station

  • marta '79002.jpg

    Underground construction, 1979

  • marta '79003.jpg

    Underground construction, 1979

  • marta023.jpg
  • Portraits edits for web.013.jpeg
  • The 16 Noble Bus 2, 1978.

    The 16 Noble Bus, 1978

  • marta031.jpg
  • tunnel009.jpg

    Tunnel Construction Worker

  • The 16 Noble Bus 3, 1978.

    The 16 Noble Bus, 1978

  • The 16 Noble Bus, Atlanta, 1978.
  • marta019.jpg
  • decatur station015.jpg
  • marta '79002.jpg
  • marta '79003.jpg
  • marta023.jpg
  • Portraits edits for web.013.jpeg
  • The 16 Noble Bus 2, 1978.
  • marta031.jpg
  • tunnel009.jpg
  • The 16 Noble Bus 3, 1978.