Visual texts and images are a great way to get an argument or point across without using literature or a medium that the author dislikes. An image can convey emotions that words can't and can be much stronger than them if used in the correct way. Sally Mann's Candy Cigarette photograph is a great example of an image illustrating a point better than words could. Constructed images involve making use of different elements such as light, lines, shapes, and more. Mann's image exemplifies these qualities and creates a very powerful message that children shouldn't smoke at such young ages.

       The image of the child holding a cigarette with other children around has many elements in play that aid its argument. The focus is put on the child in the white dress in the front of the image while there is little focus on the child in the back on the stilts. This is meant to ensure the audience sees the smoker first and then notices the rest of the picture afterwards. The colors in the image gives a grim look and feel and shows the lack of fun and color that smoking causes. This gives more of a reason that smoking is a bad thing for anyone to do, especially children. An element related to focus is the lighting of the picture. The background is shadowy and has a dim and gloomy accent to it while the foreground has soft and natural lighting to illuminate the smoker. This lighting and focus technique is meant to highlight the smoker and show that smoking can single people out and cause them to stick out of a crowd.  

       The photograph has a dark value in the back but gradually turns lighter the closer it gets to the cigarette. This transition of value shows the reverse of moving forward which is a counterpoint to the road the kids are standing on. The curviness of the road suggests a progression through time and a loss of energy in the children. The two kids that aren't smoking are looking down the road to symbolize that they are looking forward to living their lives and going through childhood while the smoker is facing the other way showing that they gave up their childhood and possible ambitions to "fit in" or seem better than what they are. The children might be related to one another but are placed in different spaces. The one in the dark dress is closer to the smoker which shows that she could be closer to giving in to the temptation of joining in while the one in the back is placed far away, showing that he has no interest. Even though the girl in the dark dress is closer to the smoking girl, she is still facing towards the forest which shows that she still still may to go down the right path but is a little hesitant. The fact that the child in the back is on stilts signifies that he feels that he's above smoking and refuses to stoop to the others' level and start smoking. He will enjoy his childhood and go down the road towards a darker but more fulfilling life.

       Some may argue that this image has the opposite meaning, that children should enjoy their childhood by doing things that interest them and that they would enjoy doing, even if that is smoking. They also would assume that the lighting on the smoker shows that she will have a more enjoyable childhood since she is doing what she enjoys and that the ones heading towards the trees will have a lonely and boring life. This is not the case however. That argument is nullified by the girl's facial expression. She is completely depressed and apathetic towards the situation. The road moving towards the dark forest can be seen as foreshadowing their lives having dark spots. The child smoking choses to stay in the light and smoke but it is only a temporary light; the darkness that is in the background will come forward soon and consume the smoker. The two children going towards the darkness will have to endure it but will be better off in the long run after having gone through and learned from it.  Another thing to notice is that the boy in the stilts also has a white outfit on, just like the smoker. This shows that he was possibly like her and was a smoker but improved and is now going down the road to reclaim his lost childhood. The bottom half of his outfit is darker which proves that he is trying to get down the road. He looks older than the two girls so his childhood could very well have already come and gone. The girl that is looking down the road has a nearly full dark dress on to show she has never indulged in the smoking but the white frills on the shoulder show that her sister's smoking has begun to threaten to corrupt her. 

       

The visual elements of light, line, color, focus, and space help to add an abstract and interpretive spin on the photograph while having the audience assume a dreary outlook and view on it. Having these elements are not the only important part of an effective image; they have to work together well and cause the audience to think about what they mean when put together to force them to really analyze the image. Once the image is analyzed, the viewer will have a better understanding of the image and gain more of an appreciation from interpreting it.

