a photographer I love.

Sally Mann

Sally Mann (born in Lexington, Virginia, 1951) is one of America’s most renowned photographers. She has received numerous awards, including NEA, NEH, and Guggenheim Foundation grants, and her work is held by major institutions internationally. Her many books include Second Sight (1983), At Twelve (1988), Immediate Family (1992), Still Time (1994), What Remains (2003), Deep South (2005), Proud Flesh (2009), and The Flesh and the Spirit (2010). A feature film about her work, What Remains, debuted to critical acclaim in 2006. Mann is represented by Gagosian Gallery, New York. She lives in Virginia.

- From Sally Manns Website

http://sallymann.com/about

I have been looking at Sally for a little while now and i have to say her work is breath taking, not everyone agrees with me but it think there is something so wonderfully haunting about her collection 'immediate family' I also think that the way she photographs her subjects/ family is very honest and beautfiul, i aspire to take a more realistic approach to photography and have been doing this recently with some very beautiful results.

 Sally has had problems with people critising her way of photograping her children, this is a real shame because her work is so beautiful,  in this day and age people do not think its acceptable to take imagery like hers as there are so many rules that govern art and children. Her work undoubtedly is for the purpose of creating a beautiful images and capturing the moments precious in the lives of her children. At the end of the day photography is down to the veiw of the individual, if a person looks at her work and has something bad to say about the subject matter; they are approaching her work with a closed mind and only considering only what we have been told is and is not appropriate in todays world The artistic veiws of photographers and artists alike have been bulldozed by the heir archy of modern society and there veiws on 'expression' Sally's work is about nature and the human form, not about exposing children.

  

These photographs are my favourites of hers, these are her children at various ages, I think they are approached delicatley and they just appear to be so honest, the tones are stunning and each one is composed beautifully.

 If i am lucky enough to have children I can photograph I would love to do some beautiful and natural shots of them, obviously suited to there own character of course, I think it is a good thing to be able to veiw art which is so personal and special to you as a parent.