Sally Mann

(This is an eerie picture...I wonder what her children think of this picture. I do not have problems with the pictures Sally Mann took of her children, but I understand why others may question. I question a little, but It seems like her children turned out fine so who am I to judge?)

           Sally Mann is described as being able to see what others do not. She can find and make art out of ordinary objects and happenings. This is a true gift. She has been blessed with an amazing gift, a loving and happy filled childhood, a nice husband, three great children, and a wonderful career. I hope she appreciates what she has been given, but I understand that she also had to work and strive to deserve all the wonderful things that have happened to her. Even the bad that she had to experience, like her father’s death, influenced her work in a positive way. I liked learning about her process, her way of thinking, and what kind of person she is. By the end of the movie I felt like I knew her and I liked what I saw.

            I liked how she described that landscape has magic; she just needs to find it.  I also like how she described how she welcomed the angel of uncertainty. In my high school photography we sometimes made what we called trash art, which consisted of making a print that was not quite perfect then throwing it into the trash can in the dark room. In a few hours or minutes we retrieved our prints, but they had been transformed by the chemicals that were thrown on them while in the trash can; sometimes the prints were altered or “ruined” in just the right way that they became amazing works of art. I like how she admitted that some of her prints become amazing having nothing to do with her touch. She is giving credit where credit is due; I like this.

            When her project on death did not get to be shown at Pace I felt for Sally, but she should have thought about the situation more clearly. It seemed like she needed others to like and appreciate her work, but did she spend all her time working on the photos for herself or for others? I hope she did it for herself instead of others because she will never be able to control how others view her work, her satisfaction should be enough, but I understand needing to be liked and appreciated by others…it is due to our own insecurity.