Annie Leibovitz

Brigitte Willis, Jan 21, 2012, AWQ301

Editorial / Portraiture

“A photographer of today's hottest celebrities who has become a celebrity herself.”-Encyclopedia of World Biography

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Table of Contents

• Biography

• Education and Training

• Career

• Photo Genre and Style

• Iconic Covers

• Process and Technologies Used

• Video

• Bibliography

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Biography

• Birth name: Anna-Lou Leibovitz

• Born: October 2, 1949

• Age: 62

• Birthplace: Waterbury, Connecticut

• Now lives in New York

Family:

• Father was in the US air force

• Mother was a modern dance teacher

• Third of Six Children

• 3 children: Sarah, Susan, Samuelle September, Self Portrait by Annie Leibovitz

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Education and Training

• 1967: enrolled at the San Francisco Art Institute to study painting

• Took her first pictures in the Philippines when her father was stationed there for the Vietnam war

• Took a night class in photography

• After taking a photography workshop Annie decided that’s what suited her

• Painting was too isolating

• Wasn’t taught any technique

• She learned to compose, to frame, to fill the negative, to fit everything she saw into the cameras rectangle

• Time Annie spent in Israel helped her improve her skills

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Career

• 1970: Annie Leibovitz approached Jahn Wenner (Founder of Rolling Stones) and showed him her portfolio

• She was hired at Rolling Stones

• First assignment was to shoot John Lennon

• This portrait became the cover of Rolling Stones in 1971 and 2 years later she became Rolling Stone chief photographer

• Went on the 1972 tour with the rolling stones

• 10 years later she left the magazine and had taken 142 cover photos

• Began working for Vanity Fair and Vogue

• Took pictures for American Express, Gap and Milk’s advertising campaigns

John Lennon, Rolling Stone 21 January 1971, Annie Leibovitz

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Mick Jagger, Buffalo, New York, 1975, Annie Leibovitz

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September 10, 2007, Hayden Panettiere, Annie Leibovitz July 2008, Tina Fey on American Express, Annie Leibovitz

2006, Jennifer Garner Gap AIDS Campaign, Annie Leibovitz

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Photo Genre and Style • Known for taking pictures of celebrities

• Bright colours

• Intense Lighting

• Unique and surprising poses

• She captures her subjects character and attitude

“I've always been more interested in what they do than who they are, I hope that my photographs reflect that.”- Annie Leibovitz

2008, Gisele Bündchen and LeBron James, Annie Leibovitz

February 2010, Tiger Woods, Annie Leibovitz

December 2011, Lady Gaga, Annie Leibovitz

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John Lennon and Yoko Ono, New York City, December 8, 1980, Annie Leibovitz

Elizabeth II, Buckingham Palace, London, 2007, Annie Leibovitz

Iconic Photographs

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Demi Moore, Culver City, California, 1991, Annie Leibovitz Whoopi Goldberg, Berkeley California, 1984

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• Her best pictures done on location

• Likes to place her subject in their own environment, sets a stage

• Keeps just enough equipment for a small portrait shoot

• Uses music when she shoots

• Mostly posed pictures in black and white or deep saturated colours

• Lens choice was always 35 mm

Process and Technologies Used

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Annie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEjho8I8XBY

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Bibliography

• Somerstein, Rachel “Life Through a Lens”, PBS, January 11, 2012, http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/annie-leibovitz/life-through-a-lens/16/

• “Annie Leibovitz Biography,” Bio True Story, January 11, 2012, http://www.biography.com/people/annie-leibovitz-9542372

• “Annie Leibovitz: Contributing Editor,” Vanity Fair, January 21, 2012, http://www.vanityfair.com/contributors/annie-leibovitz

• Anonsson, Hanna “Annie Leibovitz,” January 21, 2012, http://www.fashionmanagement.se/pict/showreel/critical/AnnieLeibovitz_HannaAronsson.pdf

• “Annie Leibovitz's first "Rolling Stone" cover features John Lennon,” Jewish Women's Archive, January 21, 2012, http://jwa.org/thisweek/jan/21/1971/annie-leibovitz

• Lysaght, Stephanie, “Annie Leibovitz's iconic magazine covers,” Los Angeles Times, January 11, 2012, http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-annieleibovitz-pg,1,1950457.photogallery?1

• Leibovitz, Annie. Annie Leibovitz at Work. New York: Random House, 2008. Print.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Song Choice: Paparazzi by Lady Gagahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2smz_1L2_0&ob=av2n

I picked this song because Annie Leibovitz photographs celebrities, although it’s different than paparazzi I still thought it related. Plus I thought it was ironic that she’s photographed Lady Gaga the artist of this song.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012