Sally Mann ( Black and White Photographer and her three photographs that move me, Yamariah Walters)

These three photographs by Sally Mann move me because they are more than what they seem. We know that these are her family portraits, however thats not what they only are. These are her work. They are the prodcut of doing what she loves. In the first photograph posted, I feel like the little girl is allowing me to see into her soul, or she is looking into mine. the fact that she is looking straight at us is almost frightening, but her body language is innocent. She clings to her blanket as if someone wants it and she is telling them no with her eyes rather than her mouth. The lighting also set the mood of the image; it is cast directly on her. to me it is a good thing the persons face in the background is cropped out, otherwise the focus will be taken from the child who with her loving yet needful gaze touches my heart. Photographs two and three move me, because there is no eye-contact. It is as though Sally Mann wanted to keep us out of the composition. There is something she doesn't want us to know, which leaves us wondering more about what is going on with the girl in image two and the boy in image three. My outlook on image two, is that the girl is ashamed which is a feeling most people feel a great number of times in their lives. But why? Why should she fee shame? What has she done that has caused guilt which lked to shame. Same for the boy in image three. Why is he hiding his eyes? What is it that has him covering his eyes. I say she is trying to keep us out through having the girl turn away and the boy cover his eyes. It is said the eyes are the key to the soul, however we are not allowed or permitted to see into the subjects' soul. These two photographs move me, because they cause me to form multiple questions. In addition, I am moved by the lighting and how the colors and the compostition are minimal, which gives them more to hide. The less there is, the more there is.