Week Three Trading Places - Sally Mann's "Three Graces"

            Sally Mann’s photograph, “Three Graces” was photographed brilliantly, however, the concept escapes me. As you can see there are three naked girls standing on a hill, their hands entwined and they are peeing. If there was a message behind the actions they are taking, it is not clear to the viewer what that may be. The closest relation to three girls in the photograph that I can see, is that they may be hippies expressing their freedom. Since the photograph was taken in 1951, I find it hard to believe these women were hippies because the hippie movement took place during the mid 60’s. It is possible Sally Mann was ahead of her time, however the early 50’s was still a time of reformation and something like this photograph would be taboo. Perhaps Mann was trying to equalize women to men in showing they can pee in public as well. Despite the confusion in why the girls are doing what they are doing, the photograph is still lighted skillfully with the sun setting behind the middle girl. Also, the use of the 8 x 10 view camera to capture all the detail was a great choice pending Sally Mann had a good reason in having these three girls peeing.