In Response to Place - Photographs of Sally Mann

[kwamed84]

I like her work very much,I found another artist that works in 19th century photographic processes, name of artist is Zia Ayub . . .website: ziaayub.com

[MrFalconford]

exude, orve, faraway, don't know why, important, color, symbolic, old, I didn't want, timelessness, wonderful, unique, beautiful, photography. That's what she said. The advertisement was more interesting. How's the endowment treating you?

[netando]

I don't like her work but I love that she does it, if that makes sense. It's not my thing but I think true art is not trying to please the masses, but doing what you feel is right, in that I love her work.

[Andre00x]

I think she's a great photographer and I love the way she thinks.

[jun7per]

she has cruel eyes and a mouth like an old man.

her arrogance is very exposed.

I dont believe her images are very good....its all in the collodion processing. A toilet roll would look stunning processed using collodian technique.

[randytate]

@jun7per Her looks are irrelevent but I get your point - fine art photography makes you think only luck separates the winners from the losers.

She actually does have some incredible images too. I'm not a big fan of backyard kids' stuff (as art) but "Shiva at Whistle Creek" is a great photograph. Its sense of motion, space and perspective as well as the deep contrast draw the viewer in. The composition isn't my favorite but that's obviously subjective and she's hardly using a point-n-shoot.

[iwitchhunter]

ok, but the collodian doesn't process itself.. it's a technique that takes a certain amount of skill to master.

maybe she isn't the best photographer, but she's a very good printer and a great artist.

[effceeyoukay]

@jun7per It could be just me being biased, but I think Sally Mann was (& still is) a rather attractive woman for her age. I'm pretty sure she was a very beautiful woman (physically) in her younger years..all her Jesse, Emmett and Virginia in my honest opinion are exceptionally good looking people.

[MrFiglet]

@effceeyoukay I know this comment was in response to another's criticism, but it sure reveals the poster's preoccupation with appearance. Of all you could think to say about the artist, you ponder that the artist is "still" rather attractive "for her age," you're "pretty sure she was a very beautiful woman (physically)" (in her younger years, of course), and finally, you comment on the "exceptional good looks" of the artist's kids. Respectfully, I would suggest that YOUR focus needs readjusting.

[proust72]

nothing a quick wipe with a shirtsleeve couldn't fix

[patrujo]

totally whatevs

[marysu4]

Cigarette was a candy cigarette. It is the eye of the beholder. I have an entire summer of photos of my kids and in every one they're naked--we call it the naked summer-- they just shed clothes as unnecessary to their 3 and 4 yo country lives. Mann's work is amazing.

[ShutterbugFairy]

nudity okay BUT the child holding the cigarette is nasty

[eDDDDWarrrDS]

I'm pretty sure it's a candy cigarette. I believe it says so it the documentary about her called "What Remains."

[b30307]

That photo is actually called Candy Cigarette.

[muzziwuzzi92]

haaha u tell em :D

[PatjuhBruell]

It was just a candy cigarette.

When you don't know what you're talking about, you'd better shut your mouth!

[jo7948]

first off, shes a great photographer..each photo is a work of art..these werent taken by a stranger, but by their mother...i doubt their mothers intention was to sexualize them..for someone with a problem it does not require a whole lot to arouse them. lets be honest was every woman or child ever molested naked when it happened..absolutely not.. if i like a woman.. it doesnt matter what they are wearing. and lastly, and i keep hearing the argument, how do you hurt a child with a photo?

[MayaAYG]

Yes (see comment above).

Artists indeed must make the art they must make.

Keep looking, listening, responding & creating great art. This is life. Glad to be in it.

[28happenstance]

The problem here may not be the way the artist portrays there subject, but rather how you interpret their portrayal. Think about it.

[28happenstance]

Does that mean that artists such as Mann should be prohibited from making works of art that include depictions of nude children? Of course not. Here is a scenario for you. There are people out there that are sexual aroused by animals and participate in sexual acts with animals. Does this mean that we should not take pictures of animals? Of course not.

[muzziwuzzi92]

It's only normal, some people just ARE aroused by animals..

[28happenstance]

Here is my argument. No where on the Internet have I ran into CHILD PORNOGRAPHY. No where. Why? Because it is not there. A site would not stay up a day if it where put up, the domain registration would be frozen immediately, trust me. With that said, does that mean that works of art such as Mann's are not used as means for pedophiles to achieve arousal from? Of course not.

[trinaclaren]

Yup, some naked pics of kids are made for childhood keepsakes, take this for example, your daughter has gone looking at every photo in her childhood photo album, and when she sees the naked pic, probably, she would be like"How cute am i back in my childhood days"

And secondly, we have taken pictures of our kids in their shirts and panties only and never mistake that for lolicon because it is used for art and photography purposes only.

I support her art.

[MayaAYG]

ok - actually 4 parts...

healing facilitator, I feel that ANY art that might even come CLOSE to sexualizing children should not be made. So I get both sides of the argument. Ultimately, I suppose that the healer in me takes presidence over the artist by a hair's breadth, as Ive seen far too much of the deep damage done...but I also see the beauty in Mann's work.

Blessings All,

Maya

[MayaAYG]

A Response in 3 parts

Part 3 of 3

(which can be a courageous, important and HEALTHY stance for an artist)is more important than choosing not to put more material out into the world that will sexually arouse people who get off on children... Personally, Id say its a tough call. I am an artist AND I work with women who were sexually molested in childhood. As an artist, I feel we should all be able to create our art freely (so long as there is no intent to harm anyone with it) and as a (cont)

[MayaAYG]

A Response in 3 parts

Part 2 of 3 I think its fair to say that child pornography has a sadly large audience and that people who get off sexually on children will very likely see Sally Mann's nude child portraits as viable material for sexual arousal, rather than artful expression. This is sad. And yet that does not make it untrue. So it is up to the artist to decide if making her art and not caring what others think (continued)

[28happenstance]

"I think its fair to say that child pornography has a sadly large audience". Are you serious?!!! Where do you get this information from? Prime time television. I am not afraid to say that I watch porn, I am 28 year old male. I am also and artist that uses photography as a medium quite often. I also include children in some of my work. No nudes though. I am not that daring because of people's skewed interpretations of works of art.

[28happenstance]

The problem here may not be the way the artist portrays there subject, but rather how you interpret there portrayal. Think about it.

[MayaAYG]

Yes - absolutely agree. The problem is how the art is interpreted. I think its fair to say that that the majority of viewers take it to a place that causes no harm. My concern is only about the ones that go a direction with it that is not healthy.

But hey - each to his or her own.

[MayaAYG]

A Response in 3 parts

Part 1 of 3:

Its all a matter of point of view, of course, and we will all see from our own points of view....from mine, RAPE is most definitely NOT SEX. Rape is violence. Now whether an artist means for nude portraits to be porn or poem may be hard to tell without talking to the artists...there is one's intention and then there is one's audience

[bodicica]

I think it is beyond doubt she is a great artist and I very much like her landscape pics.

However some pics of her nude children I consider pornographic;when she depicts them not as innocent children (like cupids by Rubens et al) but little-baring-grown-ups. Like in the pic 'Candy cigarette' the little girl does not look like a child pretending to smoke, but as a child-prostitute...

All in all, I respect her, but some of her works I find frighteningly on the verge of child-pornography.

[bolderiks]

The eye of the beholder disturbes the open mind very often. This is a typical case of how things could be torn out of perspective. If you could ask Sally whats it all about she probably would give you here interpretation, the real truth that is. I don't say you have a sick mind, but your view on reality definitly needs a boost. Life can be very interesting when you have the ability to absorb the the right frequency of art.

[MsIthinkthereforeIam]

@bolderiks agree.

[dahwang12]

there is a fine line when it comes to pictures depicting nude child. yet throughout the ages, many respected artists, ex. reinassance, often depicted nude child in their art works. look at donatello's david, or baroque paintings depicting cupids. theyre not child porn. theyre simply artist's representation of subject matters. same should go for sally mann. she does not take pictures of her children for porn. she has her own meaning in her photos, and i respect her as a brave, tough artist.

[pictures4free]

Go to my channel and check out my pictures. I want to share my art with the world so Im giving them away for free! You are welcome to use them for your desktop, etc! Enjoy!

[bladey1010]

I love Sally's work she did with her kids and husband (her early work). The latter stuff with the light leaking cameras...I just didn't get it. This color work...same way. A negative that thin could ONLY....ONLY be sold by Sally Mann now that she's famous.

The people who try to lump this lady into something like porn...I'm sorry. You're crazy. And this from a pretty conservative dude. Bless this lady and her vision. She's been a huge influence on myself and many other photogs.

[LoveShallThee]

I totally agree! good point!

[xBrockSamsonKillerx]

...Only there's nothing sexual about those photographs. Don't be ignorant, learn to tell the difference between art and porn.

[LittleMissVanessa]

Yes there is.. I looked on wikipedia and nude pictures of kids is considered as kiddie porn. Cant believe there is people that love to look at nude kids, thats so disgusting!

[LoveShallThee]

depends on the intention right! people can have sex, it is still sex, so is rape. I think she wanted to show something spiritual.

[americansuburb]

amen.

[bretblatt]

ughhh....i love her.

[noahassjer]

I always keep her works in my mind

[HunterMann]

She does have a great eye. I'm curious to know what old camera she is using.

[myjohnnycash]

she uses an antique 8x10 view camera that is over 100 years old; it doesnt actually have a shutter so she has to use her hand.

[worldofjana]

one gifted bitch, i love her works

[cqtaylor]

Sally Mann is a living national treasure. God bless her. :-)