There was a moment in the Sally Mann documentary recommended here earlier that I found very striking: After having finished her series “What Remains”, and after having agreed on getting the work shown at some very prestigious New York gallery, Sally Mann is being informed that the gallery decided to cancel the show. Of course, she is very upset about this (who wouldn’t be?); and then while she’s trying to understand what might possibly be the reason, I noticed that one obvious possible explanation is never brought up: Maybe the work simply isn’t that good. She never entertains that idea. I found that striking.
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A wonderful documentary about Sally Mann that can only be recommended to anyone interested in photography (despite its horrendously soppy soundtrack and its omission of some questions that could be asked). Get the DVD, which features many extras (incl. an earlier movie about her family photographs - which, as far as I am concerned, are vastly better than the work discussed in the main documentary).
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