Profile: Maggie Diaz

Maggie Diaz was born Margaret Eunice Reid on 25 February 1925, in Kansas City Missouri, USA and spent her early childhood years in New York. She arrived in Melbourne from the US in 1961 with a one-way ticket given to her by her ex-husband as a divorce gift.

As an award-winning photographer in the US, it did not take her long to establish herself as one of Melbourne's leading commercial photographers. Diaz used her flair for night photography and skill in utilising available light to capture the essence of Melbourne’s arts and wider community over four decades.

Her work has always been marked by the contrast between the glamorous commercial world and those outside of society, with whom she felt a connection.

"Photography was something I found that I could earn an income from and it has been my life. Photography kept me from being lazy. It gave me a reason to go out; my imagination was wonderful and even though I made a mess out of a lot of things, photography made me feel that I could be sensitive and intelligent."

You can see more of Diaz's work at maggiediaz.com