what color film did sally mann use for her mexican landscapes?

codyjgraham · Jul 23, 2012

does anyone know what film sally mann used for her color landscapes of mexico?

like these?

i asked this on large format photography forum too, and most of my answers were telling me how much sally mann sucks, but i think other wise so thanks for the help

greenrhino · Jul 23, 2012

The look of those images has less to do with the film than the use of what looks like an uncoated or antique large format lens. That said there are not many choices of 8x10 film so my guess is going to be portra 160, the most ubiquitous large format neg film.....

CGW · Jul 23, 2012

The series dates back to 1999, so take it from there as to what was available.. I'd also vote for lenses and processing/printing sorcery. Never understood the rancor directed at Mann--sexism? simple jealousy?

MDR · Jul 23, 2012

Cody you've also been told that the look is a result of Exposure and the Lens and I guess the count was along the line of 2/3 Mann sucks and 1/3 Mann is superb (I am part of the later). Have you contacted Sally Mann yet? She most likely used something like Kodak Portra 160NC

codyjgraham · Jul 23, 2012

MDR said:
Cody you've also been told that the look is a result of Exposure and the Lens and I guess the count was along the line of 2/3 Mann sucks and 1/3 Mann is superb (I am part of the later). Have you contacted Sally Mann yet? She most likely used something like Kodak Portra 160NC

i have tried, but i havent heard back yet... and i said most not all i was just seeing if i could get some other opinions out there!

codyjgraham · Jul 23, 2012

also it was like 4/5 hating and 1/5 loving lol

ColdEye · Jul 23, 2012

Maybe because we all have different tastes? try some over exposed slide film or color negs, use it with an uncoated old lens.

tim elder · Jul 23, 2012

A very quick search on the web came up with this page:

http://www.edelmangallery.com/archive20.htm

The mention of an antique lens further supports other users' guesses that she used one. I have no idea what camera she used to realize these images but it has nothing to do with the kind of film used and everything to do with the technique she employed.

Tim

Richard S. (rich815) · Jul 23, 2012

I do not think Sally Mann sucks. I personally just find her work boring. That said looking at your examples I really do not think which film she used matters much.

SuzanneR · Jul 23, 2012

I have a book of her photographs, The Flesh and the Spirit which looks at her work that concerns the body or figure. In it there is a section called "Family Color" where the essay says she used Agfachrome 200 RS film in Mamiya 6 starting around 1990. It has a distinctly different look than the Mexico pictures, but she was using a distinctly different camera. She also had made Cibachromes and Polaroind still lifes in the early 80's.

She's an interesting artist, has been extremely prolific in what and how she photographs, I don't like all of her work (hate the dead body's) but I admire her tenacity and focus that has resulted in some extraordinary pictures, not sure how anyone can find her work boring.

Prof_Pixel · Jul 23, 2012

The photos you posted look like they coud easily have been taken with the Hipstamatic application on an iPhone (yes, I know they weren't).

ruilourosa · Jul 23, 2012

what a sh#%yyyyyy comment! just quit! and hipstmatic yourself out!

codyjgraham · Jul 23, 2012

SuzanneR said:
not sure how anyone can find her work boring.

thats how i feel! and if you dont like her work fine by me, but you have to acknowledge her ability to produce good art

amsp · Jul 23, 2012

I've seen Sally Mann's work in person and absolutely loved it, I especially adore the ones in her "Immediate Family" series.

artonpaper · Jul 23, 2012

I greatly admire Sally Mann. I like that she is so willing to confront and use process as an important element in here work. She is an artist who is not concerned with taste and is willing to endure new criticism every time she embarks on a new project. Do I like everything she does? No, but all of it interests me, and therefore I don't find her boring.

About the color, my wife recently shot a roll of Kodak color negative film in a Diana color. I had it processed by a reputable professional lab, and was amazed at the color rendition. I scanned the film for her and I must say the color bore no resemblance to reality or conventional color rendering. So, yeah, lenses can really make a difference.

Prof_Pixel · Jul 23, 2012

BTW, I DON"T like the Hipstmatic application and would never use it... I just don't link gimmicky photos no mater how they are produced.

Richard S. (rich815) · Jul 23, 2012

codyjgraham said:
thats how i feel! and if you dont like her work fine by me, but you have to acknowledge her ability to produce good art

Sure, I guess. Or at least "art" others admire. Personally I'd prefer work I hate, at least it stirs a passion within. A friend of mine had a couple of her books. Less than halfway thru I was skipping pages anxious to get to the end and soon as was looking to find another book on the shelf. In particular the ones of her kids in the woods and back country seem contrived to me. And worst of all contrived in a way to try to not look contrived. Maybe that does not make sense...

Anyway. To each his own of course. When others dislike photographers I like I do not find it a personal affront as many seem to. (not you, others!)

ruilourosa · Jul 23, 2012

dagerreotipes seem a nice gimmick... as autocromes, finlaycolor, dufaycolor, photography is a gimmick... and a lie! lie the best you can but don´t foul yourself...

codyjgraham · Jul 23, 2012

gah this means i have to shell out more money for a new lens!

Michael W · Jul 23, 2012

I love Sally Mann. I also like Hipstamatic on the iPhone. There is a great doc on Sally Mann titled What Remains, where you can see a fair bit of her at work on wet plate.
The colour photos you refer to were made in the late '90s so she would have had a much wider choice of colour films then than are available now.

rrankin · Jul 24, 2012

I shot some 8x10 color film using an old Darlot petzval and got images with that same sort of look to them.

Richard

wogster · Jul 24, 2012

codyjgraham said:
does anyone know what film sally mann used for her color landscapes of mexico?

like these?View attachment 54325 View attachment 54326 View attachment 54327

i asked this on large format photography forum too, and most of my answers were telling me how much sally mann sucks, but i think other wise so thanks for the help

I can't believe after 3 pages of responses nobody has suggested this:

Go to Sally Mann's Dead Link Removed, click on about, go to the very bottom, there is a contact email address, for the gallery, post the question to that email address, they should pass it on to SM herself and she can get back to you on that.

what color film did sally mann use for her mexican landscapes?

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