Sally Mann is someone I discovered on my own a while ago when I started really researching photography on my own and photographers that I liked whose work I really connected with. Amongst Sally Mann were photographers such as Toni Frissell, Rodney Smith, Elliot Erwitt, Garry Winogrand, and a few others I can't think of at the moment. I came across these photographers through google image searches of black and white photography, and it's these photographers' work that really stood out to me and that said similar things to what I strive to say through photography. One photograph I found that I particularly liked was Sally Mann's "Candy Cigarette" which looks like this:
If that isn't a strong, compelling, statement-making image, than I don't know what is. Plus, it helps that it's a beautifully printed photograph, with a fabulous composition and range of tones.
Regardless, I went and saw her exhibition 'The Family and the Land", and here's a link to the Photographers Gallery's website, and a place where you can read about the exhibition (*PS the link won't open in a new window... beware): Click me to read about Sally Mann's exhibition on the Photographer Gallery's website
I walked around the exhibition just grinning, thinking about how cool it was that I was standing before a photographer's work whom I look up to and aspire to shoot and print like. A very unique feeling indeed. At the little Gallery shop I bought a book entitled "The Americans". This is a book put together by a famous Street Photographer, Robert Frank. I learned about the book, and Frank, when I took a History of Photography course while we were going over Street Photography (I hate Street Photography why would I ever buy a book about it). I can't really explain it, but here's a pretty good description of it: Click this to read and learn about what Robert Frank's famous book, The Americans, is all about
(I love giving all of these fun and helpful links... I hope you like them as much as I like providing them for whomever is reading this blog)
Frank's portrayal of America and specifically those who reside in the country is something I often find myself thinking about. One of my favourite things to debate about with myself is the entire paradox of freedom, and maybe even possibly the paradox of life in itself. I won't go into detail really- that could be dangerous for your sake, meaning that it would extend this particular entry about two pages longer than it really should be. I'll save you the time.
After the gallery, we had a quick lunch, hit up a street Chinese place... it was kind of nasty, but satisfying at the same time. We then headed to some other place, some sort of company called 'Autograph'. They're like a developing archive, and we met with a lady whom Armon had met before. She has worked with Autograph for over ten years or something. Basically what they're doing is developing and storing an archive of specific Photographers and what not. I was kind of confused about what they were doing and why we were there, but it was still interesting I guess. I don't really have much else to say about that visit.
Something amazing happened this day (yes other than seeing Sally Mann's work right before my eyes.) As we were walking down random alleys back to the station to head to another local exhibit, we came across a BANKSY uhm, painting I guess you would call it. If you don't know who Banksy is, shame shame on you. He's a renowned British graffiti artist. He's the most creative graffiti artist ever, in my opinion, and is also very controversial and loves pushing the government's buttons, which I also love. You can read about him and see some of his astonishing work here, on wikipedia: I'm clicking here because I want to learn more about who and what this 'Banksy' character is (There's another link, you're welcome, but seriously just search 'Banksy' in google images or something, and the creativeness will seep out of your computer screen and onto your desk or lap or whatever. Really. He's amazing) So anyways, once I saw it I freaked out- like I couldn't even say words. Armon was just as excited as I was, and apparently no one else on the trip really knows who he is (SHAME ON THEM BEING INVOLVED IN ART AND NOT KNOWING WHO BANKSY IS! I"M ASHAMED OF MY GENERATION!) So I got a photo next to it, I'd provide the photo, but Armon has it on his camera somewhere. That was a great experience. I found a Banksy. So rad.
After that ordeal, we went to a HUGE student / grad student all types of Photography show in Liverpool. This show included students from all of the art colleges of London. So that's how big it was. Unfortunately I didn't really get into it because I wore bad shoes this day, not knowing how much walking we were going to be doing, and was sick of walking around by the time we got to this huge show. I remember seeing a few interesting things, and I also remember seeing a few things that reminded me why I hate associating myself with the whole Photography movement from time to time. (I probably saw a huge colorful digital highly manipulated and cliche print of some sort with an idiotic subject and even more thought-less title.) After flying through the whole show, I met up with another peer, and he and I headed back to the hotel. (By this point everyone was pretty much on their own for whenever they wanted to go back and whatever they wanted to do). Once back in the South Kensington area, Matt and I went to the gourmet burger kitchen again. It was good, again, and we actually ran into a handful of students wearing ku shirts who apparently had been studying abroad in Italy for a month and were stopping in London on their way home. That was random. After dinner, it was Kacie chill-time back at the hotel. Tea, chocolate, and blogging, and I eventually got to skype with Ma, Pa, and the Kid sis for a bit, so that was nice.
Got to bed early, as usual, and by early I mean before everyone else on the trip maybe except for one, because everyone else was generally out and about upon the streets of London at night looking for a cool fun bar or club. Whatevz.
