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died last night at home after a long battle with cervical cancer. She was 55. Among those at her side were Ann Prim, her partner of 12 years, and her best friend Lisa Nebenzahl.

Photographer Ann Marsden at a benefit in her honor at The Dakota in January 2011. Her mother Mary Marsden is seen in the background.

A true photographer and artist to the last, Nebenzahl says Marsden asked for her partner to create a website and post photos there of her treatment and decline. You can see those photos 

Nebenzahl says just in the last few months Marsden created a series of photographs that were in essence a poem about cancer, and even in her last hours she was talking about making pictures.

Known for her portraiture, her photography of local theater companies, and for her own personal art, the Minnesota native made friends easily with her intensely engaging personality. She was a regular photographer for Penumbra Theater, Jungle Theater, Minnesota Orchestra, MPR and many other Twin Cities cultural institutions, as well as a host of actors and musicians.

Theater artist Stacia Rice worked with Marsden on several occasions. Rice also helped organize 

 in Marsden's front yard when she was too weak to receive visitors.

Longtime friend and fellow photographer Larry Marcus repeatedly uses the word "brilliant" when describing Marsden. He remembers the day he met her.

Marcus said as a portrait photographer Marsden made "a place for people to really reveal themselves... and she did that by really opening up, too."

Terry Gydesen and Ann Marsden at a James J. Hill House exhibit in 2009

Marsden taught photography for many years, and has numerous devoted mentees who credit her for their successful careers, including friend Terry Gydesen.

Portrait of Minnesota Orchestra conductor Osmo Vanska by Ann Marsden. Vanska was an admirer of Marsden's work, and appeared at her benefit. 

Another devoted mentee is Dani Werner, who shared studio space with Marsden starting in 2003.

One person who wasn't able to talk today is Marsden's partner Ann Prim. Lisa Nebenzahl says Prim was Marsden's full-time caregiver for the last two years. Nebenzahl says Prim's career as a filmmaker helped Marsden to explore her own artwork in new and profound ways over the last decade.

You can hear Marsden talk about her work and career in her own words in this video from 2009:

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Ann Marsden died last night after a long fight with cervical cancer. She was 55.

Remembering photographer Ann Marsden

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