Devon Barthold: Sally Mann

          I believe that Sally Mann was in the right for photographing her children the way she did. She was photographing her children in their nature habitat, the way they were when they were comfortable on their farm. It was the way that her and her children felt comfortable photographing. In this article I read it quoted her child Jessie mentioning how the chest within that photograph is not her, they see the child within the photograph as someone else, not necessarily her daughter at all (1). The photograph just represents someone else even though it is of her child. The photographs were not taken as some form of pornography, Sally said that “... my lens should remain open to the full scope of their childhood, and with the willing, creative participation of everyone involved, I photographed their triumphs, confusion, harmony and isolation, as well as the hardships that tend to befall children- bruises, vomit, bloody noses, wet beds – all of it.” (1). Sally wanted to capture the reality of life, not some made up version that shows everyone “properly” dressed, she wanted to show her children the way that they are. She wanted her capture the truth, not some made up story. There is nothing wrong with wanting to photograph her children being children. 

            I see this as a form of art, in the history of art there is always someone questioning it. I see this as the same thing. She like many artists out there just want to capture the way they see this crazy world. Sally compared the moments she photographs to the short period of time our footprints stay in the sand along a river, they don’t last long. So, she wanted to capture those moments to share and to remind them of those times (2). I think it is awesome that Sally was willing to go against everyone’s belief just to do what she loves. She started out doing this kind of photography the second her kids were born, but it didn’t change over to her work until 1985 (3). I think it is cool how she turned something she would do anyway into work. It shows within her work, that she actually enjoys what she is photographing. She could have easily done anything else, but she chose something that went against everyone beliefs. I think she wanted to prove to everyone that it isn’t really seen that way. Showing the truth behind living with children, it isn’t always fun and games. I like that she showed that.

1.    https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/19/magazine/the-cost-of-sally-manns-exposure.html

2.    http://www.artnet.com/artists/sally-mann/

3.    https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-sally-mann-s-photographs-children-viewers-uncomfortable