SALLY MANN
WHO?
Sally Mann is an American photographer born May 1, 1951 in Lexington, Virginia. She was introduced to photography by her father, who photographed her as a girl, nude.
WHAT?
Mann is mainly known for her controversial photographs of children, where they may be nude, smoking, or in disturbing locations. Some claimed that Mann had exploited her children, and others claimed that her work was child pornography.
WHY?
I chose Sally Mann to study because I believe that her work is very original, powerful, and controversial (I like the controversy). All of her photographs draw me in and amaze me. I like the emotion shown through location, the faces of her children, and props.
WHEN?
Sally Mann began photography around 1969 at the Putney School, and then spent 2 years at Bennington College. After spending a year in Europe, she graduated in 1974 from Hollins College in Roanoke, Virginia. In 1983, she began photographing 12-year-old girls, in a series titled "At Twelve." She continues her work to this day, and I linked her website down below if you are interested: