Sally Mann aka my new inspiration

“The things that are close to you are the things you photograph the best.” This quote by Sally Mann was very prominent throughout her life as a photographer. Born in Lexington, Virginia, Sally is the youngest of three children. Her father worked an average job, but at home was an artist and sculptor. Sally mentioned how he was a very brilliant man that she was intimidated throughout his childhood. At 18, Sally married Larry Mann, an artist that shared the same vision she did. He later on became a lawyer, while Sally continued on with her photography. She started taking photographs of her three young children, who were more often than not, nude. After developing a fairly large series of pictures, she printed them in a book called Immediate Family, which was released in 1992. After it’s release to the public, it became harshly criticized for being “child pornography,” putting Mann under fire. Along with the criticism though, the book was being called “a magnificent work of art that captures the essence of childhood.”

After the publicity of Immediate Family died down, Mann began to take pictures of landscapes; in particular, landscapes that had experienced death on their soil. This started her following series centered on the concept of death. The series included photos of her beloved greyhound dog that had died, decomposing bodies at a forensic body farm, the site on her property where an armed escaped convict was killed, and the site of where one of the worst battles of the Civil War occurred. Mann ends the series with pictures of her children’s faces, representing hope and life. The series, called What Remains, was scheduled to be featured in an art exhibit in New York City. Four months before the big day, it was canceled, breaking Mann’s heart. One of Mann’s beliefs as to why was that, “American’s are scared of death and don’t want to see it as an organic part of life.” She eventually showed the series in a museum in Washington D.C. After the show, Mann reflects on how instead of feeling relief, she feels deflated and anxious and unable to ever take another picture. However, she just grabs her camera, goes out and takes a picture and falls easily back into the process and onto her next series of great photographs.