When I chose the photo for my homage I had never heard of Sally Mann nor was I familiar with her work. There was something about it that scream to me "This is ME!" and I knew I had to do it no matter how big the challenge!
In doing my research I discovered just how many similarities we have. I grew up in a house where nudity was not criticized or hidden. We were free to roam around with or without clothing in the Summer and spent our toddler years and potty training time without pants therefore the photo of Sally's child laying naked appearing to of wet the bed rang home with me rather than alarmed me. We had a swimming pool in our backyard that was heated like a bathtub and we would all skinny dip at night. My Mom's friends came over and also would skinny dip...(kids kept inside). None of it was considered to be sexual it was more of a natural thing. I have been a single Mother for 19 years. I have a daughter who's 19 and a son who's turning 14.
All the kids in our family seem to have issues keeping clothes on at a young age. We called my Son, Brendan "The little Nudist" because he seemed to be constantly stripping. He didn't like the feel of clothes so chose not to wear them. He was at my friend's house one day and I had to run an errand. I came back and the kids had been running around the front yard with a hose during a hot summer day. I came back to find Brendan jumping naked on a trampoline! I of course snapped a photo! One day a couple years ago Brendan was in the shower and got a terribly bloody nose. The blood was literally dripping all down his body and face. He said "Mom! You have to come here and get a picture of this!" Even my kids understand what inspires me and why. When Brendan was little he was constantly falling down and getting hurt. Every time I was going to get a professional picture taken he was bruised, bumped had a busted lip, skinned knees, etc. Finally my Mom said "That's Brendan! Just go get the pictures done. It's him" so got his and Amber's picture's taken despite of Brendan's black eye! I have photos of Amber dressed in a black satin nightgown stretched across the couch in a mature pose all of her own and dressed in her WAY oversized work uniform of my Mom's stuffed with pillows in with the proudest expression on her face! Brendan dressed in tutus when he decided to "marry" his best friend Caroline at 5 and decided he wanted to be the bride! He had a flower hair wreath and a bouquet! It was totally precious.
As a parent you want to capture all the moments of your children's lives not just the school picture and yearly picture with Santa.
In doing my research I discovered just how many similarities we have. I grew up in a house where nudity was not criticized or hidden. We were free to roam around with or without clothing in the Summer and spent our toddler years and potty training time without pants therefore the photo of Sally's child laying naked appearing to of wet the bed rang home with me rather than alarmed me. We had a swimming pool in our backyard that was heated like a bathtub and we would all skinny dip at night. My Mom's friends came over and also would skinny dip...(kids kept inside). None of it was considered to be sexual it was more of a natural thing. I have been a single Mother for 19 years. I have a daughter who's 19 and a son who's turning 14.
All the kids in our family seem to have issues keeping clothes on at a young age. We called my Son, Brendan "The little Nudist" because he seemed to be constantly stripping. He didn't like the feel of clothes so chose not to wear them. He was at my friend's house one day and I had to run an errand. I came back and the kids had been running around the front yard with a hose during a hot summer day. I came back to find Brendan jumping naked on a trampoline! I of course snapped a photo! One day a couple years ago Brendan was in the shower and got a terribly bloody nose. The blood was literally dripping all down his body and face. He said "Mom! You have to come here and get a picture of this!" Even my kids understand what inspires me and why. When Brendan was little he was constantly falling down and getting hurt. Every time I was going to get a professional picture taken he was bruised, bumped had a busted lip, skinned knees, etc. Finally my Mom said "That's Brendan! Just go get the pictures done. It's him" so got his and Amber's picture's taken despite of Brendan's black eye! I have photos of Amber dressed in a black satin nightgown stretched across the couch in a mature pose all of her own and dressed in her WAY oversized work uniform of my Mom's stuffed with pillows in with the proudest expression on her face! Brendan dressed in tutus when he decided to "marry" his best friend Caroline at 5 and decided he wanted to be the bride! He had a flower hair wreath and a bouquet! It was totally precious.
As a parent you want to capture all the moments of your children's lives not just the school picture and yearly picture with Santa.