Sally Mann Candy Cigarette Essay

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A young girl holding a candy cigarette was considered out of the ordinary during the 20th Century. That is the main focus in the image “Candy Cigarette.” Sally Mann used her unique style of photography as a way to project different meanings shown in one simple image. In “Candy Cigarette,” the theme of adulthood and rebellion appears is shown through multiple elements. Sally Mann was a photographer that used her children, Emmett, Jessie, and Virginia, in her many of her images. She had an 8 x 10 view camera that she used to capture her subjects and their surroundings in fine detail. The photograph “Candy Cigarette” was included in the series “Immediate Family,” and it was taken in 1989. Mann’s first project dealing with themes of mortality and decay began with the death of her pet dog, Eva, whom she photographed in …show more content…

In the center, a young preteen girl stares directly at the camera. This is Mann’s daughter, Jessie. She is leaning back to the left with her right arm across her body. Her left arm is bent at the elbow with a white, candy cigarette gingerly placed between her fingers. She is wearing a white, frilly dress with a watch on her right arm and a ring on her finger. She is also wearing a butterfly necklace. Her wavy, blonde hair is tousled. To her right is a young girl, Virginia, whose back is turned towards the camera, making her face unseen. She has her hands firmly placed on her hips. She has curly, brown hair that is in a ponytail. She is wearing a casual, dark colored dress. In the background, Mann’s son, Emmett, is in a white shirt He is standing on stilts to the left of Jessie. All of the children are standing on a path that curves into the trees. The white in the picture represents purity and innocence. The light shines on the girl in the center, making her stand out against the background. This gives her the appearance of being rebellious. The pale white path stands out against the dark background of

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