Vivian Faye Rivers (she/her) was born and raised in Western New York. After living in several places around the country, she is now settled with her husband, Jake, and fluffy cat, Otis, in the Allegany Mountains (NY).

Vivian is inspired by the Mary Oliver quote, “Pay attention / Be Astonished / Tell about it.” It is these words that guide her as she documents her life on film.

Why film?

I choose film over digital because of the way it makes me slow down and “pay attention” (as Mary Oliver says). The cost of film and the limitations of older cameras force me to carefully shoot each photo.

While learning to be an analog photographer has been filled with many frustrations in the unforgiving nature of the format, it has been filled with just as many excitements when things go right.