Artist Emulation

The photographer I chose to emulate is Sally Mann. She is an American artist who uses a collodion method of picture taking to capture images mostly set in the south. This tedious technique involves painting a perfectly smooth piece of glass with the collodian chemicals and silver nitrate. After being exposed, the photograph must immediately be developed and fixed in a portable dark room. The developed plate is then washed with distilled water and covered with a home-made varnish. This photography process was discovered in the mid 1800’s and was soon replaced by the dry plate method.
For obvious reasons, I could not attempt this complex technique. Instead, I used my digital camera and relied on the magical powers of Photoshop to give my pictures the same appearance. Anyhow, the most important qualities of Sally Mann’s photos in my opinion are not due to the fact that she used an old process. First, it is important to recognize the artistic elements of the images that make them strong and successful. All of her pictures are black and white. Commonly, there is a bold contrast between the black and white – the subject being the lightest part of the photo. The subject is usually centered in the frame, direct and bold. This repeated composition throughout her work shows style and confidence. The subject remains crisp and clear compared to a blurry and sometimes unknown background. But the surroundings are always outdoors. This natural setting makes statement about nature and freedom.
In my favorite series Sally Mann completed, she uses her children as the main subjects. In some of these photos, the young girls are nude – which has remained controversial among critics. Mann assures the public that her photos are meant to depict childhood, and she reflects on the way she grew up saying, “My parents were eccentric, and when I had my own children, I didn't see any point in making them wear bathing suits when we swam in the river. There was no one within five miles of us." Each of these photos has a strong emotional appeal, as the children often stare straight into the eyes of the viewer. The children display dignity and a deep understanding for the world around them. When looked at with an open attitude and artistic eye, the nude pictures are not perceived as pornographic, but rather the beauty of a child’s innocence.
Simple compositions and everyday props combined with honest and powerful models make Sally Mann’s photographs unique and timeless. She is a confident and bold artist that captures the world and forces it upon the audience. Her son offers this statement, "My mother has no blinders on. She will always look intensely upon whatever is closest to her." Sally Mann’s style is one of a kind and its attributes are desirable. I hope that my attempt to recreate and capture the mood of her photos amounts minutely in comparison to her bold work.

(photos to come... it was thunderstorming during the time i allotted to take picture)