This kind of detail might truly be appreciated by a small percentage of readers, but it is shared only occasionally and in accessible and everyday language. Ultimately it is her father himself, rather than the camera of his which she has used for years, whose presence lays a much broader claim to the memoir. The shutter, she observes, is sluggish and unpredictable, so she must always set a shorter time than the light meter suggests, and the recommended exposure time must be adjusted to accommodate the vagaries of the system. For instance, a discussion of an old rosewood 5 x 7 camera that her dad used to use, with its uncoated lens, which is susceptible to flare, and which barely covered her 8 x 10 inch film. Perhaps only other photographers will be interested in the technical aspect of the work. One of the reasons the work has such wide appeal is the author’s preoccupation with seeking a basic understanding - from whence things come and to whence they go - her circular musing upon the human condition. Sally Mann’s Hold Still is a photographer’s memoir although she has kept a journal since she was a girl, her love of imagery is deeply rooted, and it’s hard to imagine her memoir taking any other form.Ĭurrently represented by the Gagosian Gallery, her CV is impressive and extensive, but even those who have never heard her name could find Hold Still an engaging work.
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