Sally Mann has a very interesting view with the way that she looks at the world. It is as if she looks through things and tries to understand them on a deeper level rather than just looking at them on the surface. This is a very interesting method when trying to photograph something, especially if you are trying to get the viewer to see what your mind sees in the image. To have that image portray the emotion to not only you but others as well is definitely a challenge. Sally Mann has the passion of trying to make the viewer not just see the picture, but see into the picture.
She has photographed a number of things that could be considered controversial. She photographed her children nude for about 10 years and she did a series on people that have passed away. She has been labeled as one who exploits her children who may not “know better,” or even taking advantage of the deceased in her more recent portfolios. I don’t think her intentions were to exploit any of the above even though some might say she was. Personally, I think it takes a lot of strength to photograph the kinds of things that are difficult to deal with or perhaps understand and show them to the world bluntly, or in the occasional case of Sally Mann, discreetly. One is essentially putting them out there and they aren’t just photographs anymore, but rather a peek into their mind and soul as well as those around you. She was very bold in showing photographs of her children nude because although they are young, not everyone will see them as artistic but rather discomforting.
Sally photographed her husband’s disability of muscular dystrophy. She spoke about how she didn’t know whether she should be photographing him, even though she had his permission. This is, again, a move by the Mann family to take on what may be difficult to face or understand, but that seems to be what Sally thrives upon. If it was me personally, it would be a very difficult task to do. It is hard to photograph someone going through a hard time without making them feel like they are being exploited or insecure. It is even harder when it is someone that you are emotionally connected with and you care very deeply about. Most of the time, I feel that they would not want to be photographed anyways. Furthermore, people tend to want to remember positive memories; though photographs are memories that can last a lifetime. If it is a photograph of a negative emotion or a representation of a hard time, sometimes it can be painful to look at, however, it seems again to be something that Sally thrives upon. She said that she loves the feeling of feeling. I think that is something that is somewhat rare to come by, she seems to welcome every emotion and feeling because, as she puts it in her deceased album, it is better to feel something bad than nothing at all.
I have a specific memory from when my friend’s boyfriend broke up with her. She is a stunning person while happy but even though she was crying, I saw a beauty I desperately wanted to capture. We argued for around a half hour before she gave in and let me photograph her. Although she hates it because it reminds her of that specific moment in time, I consider it one of my favorite photographs that I have ever taken. The best kinds of photographs in my opinion are ones that make you look and think rather than feel “fuzzy” inside. It is human emotion in its most true form, its natural form. Nothing about this specific photo session was staged or acted, it was as Sally Mann puts it, truly real. This is a type of situation where one can then open their eyes and really see things as they are, this is something that I really think Mann does often, a self check to feel alive which comes through in her photography.
Photography can be a kind of therapy sometimes. In therapy, you go in to speak about your problems. Rather than speak, in photography your problems and thoughts can often come through in photographs. It gives a kind of access that is sometimes overwhelming to take in. Instead of writing in a journal, I like to photograph things. I associate pictures with memories, even if it is just a recreation rather than the actual moment.
I have documented many personal moments in my life. Some I would love to share with others and others I wouldn’t want anyone to see. My mother used to photograph herself nude every year or so, just to document body changes. Though I never saw them, they inspired me to do the same. I started documenting myself and well as everything else such as favorite books I read, outfits I loved, places I loved to go to, boyfriends, art work, parties and gatherings… Looking back on those past memories is very nostalgic. Without those pictures, a lot of significant and insignificant memories both would be lost and forgotten. They did not always bring enthusiastic thoughts but I believe that all of my documentations were successful. Sometimes it was very difficult to look through them, such as photos with old boyfriends. In the end though, it made me realize there was a lot of learning during those points in time and that they were necessary for the growth I have acquired today.
Sally Mann helped push the idea into my head that photography isn’t just a tool to take attractive pictures. It is a very necessary tool for documentation, to help aid the mind. Photographs tell stories and can be manipulated in several different forms such as in Photoshop or in the darkroom to exaggerate or define key elements to enhance. Sometimes the perfect composition is right in front of you in your daily life. Often time people take what is in front of them for granted because they see it all the time. Sally realized this when photographing her children and husband. Depending on how you photograph something, you can shift people’s thoughts or sway them into thinking whatever you want.
I loved how her images shifted from photographs of her children to photographs of her children in landscape to just landscape. It is difficult, in my opinion, to have a subject change that is that natural. I think she accomplished this by exploring not just the actual subject but also the surroundings. Often time the actual subject is not where all of the interest lies. Personally I love photographing people. I don’t mind photographing still life or landscapes but I think people are the most interesting because they are an element that can speak to you and affect the way you intend to photograph things. It is possible that my pursuit will change just as hers has, I only wish for the same smooth transition.
