This document provides information about photographer Annie Leibovitz's career and style, including her work for Rolling Stone magazine, portraits of celebrities for Vanity Fair, and personal projects influenced by her relationship with Susan Sontag, with examples shown of her portraits of musicians, actors, and other famous subjects.
2. Portraiture part 2.
Lesson aims.
Produce a series of creative images through shooting portraits without the
use of flash photography.
Learning objectives
•Complete essay and submit 01/02/2012 by 9pm.
•Research the photographic style of Annie Leibovitz/Bill Brandt/David Birkin.
•Produce a portrait image in the style of one of these photographers without
the aid of flash photography.
•Produce print outs and record the camera settings required.
3. Portraiture part 2.
Task 1 15 minutes.
Show evidence of research on one of the following artists
David Birkin
Annie Leibowitz
Bill Brandt.
4. Portraiture part 2.
Task 1 15 minutes.
Show evidence of research on one of the following artists
David Birkin
Annie Leibowitz
Bill Brandt.
5. Portraiture part 2.
Task 1 15 minutes.
Show evidence of research on one of the following artists
David Birkin
Annie Leibowitz
Bill Brandt.
6. Portraiture part 2.
Task 1 15 minutes.
Show evidence of research on one of the following artists
David Birkin
Annie Leibowitz
Bill Brandt.
Part of your research will involve working out how a particular photograph
was taken i.e. aperture, shutter speed, ISO
7. Annie Leibovitz
Task 2. 30 minutes.
Produce shots that are inspired from your research of one of these artists.
You must highlight the equipment and camera settings, lens type, etc
required to achieve a shot.
Task 3. (one hour).
Download images produced adapt in photoshop and transfer to the journal.
Evaluate the outcome and discuss what you have learnt.
9. Annie Leibovitz
•Annie Leibovitz has been making witty, powerful images documenting
American popular culture since the early 1970s,
•when her work began appearing in Rolling Stone. She became the magazine's
chief photographer in 1973
•ten years later began working for Vanity Fair, and then Vogue, creating a
legendary body of work.
•In addition to her magazine work, Leibovitz has created influential
advertising campaigns for American Express, Gap, Givenchy, The Sopranos,
and the Milk Board.
11. Annie Leibovitz
1983 At Vanity Fair she became known for
her wildly lit, staged, and provocative
portraits of celebrities. Most famous
among them are Whoopi Goldberg
submerged in a bath of milk
12. Demi Moore, Vanity Fair.
Photography and
pushing boundaries in
celebrity portraits.
13. Annie Leibovitz
•Leibovitz met Susan Sontag in
1989.
•Sontag told her, “You’re good,
but you could be better.”
•their relationship lasted until
Sontag’s death in late 2004.
14. Annie Leibovitz
Sontag’s influence on Leibovitz was
profound. In 1993 Leibowitz traveled to
Sarajevo during the war in the Balkans, a
trip that she admits she would not have
taken without Sontag’s input.
Sarajevo, Fallen Bicycle of Teenage Boy Just
Killed by a Sniper,
15. Annie Leibovitz
Personal photo essay
1990-2005, publishes personal photographs (A Photographer’s Life).
The images include her parents, siblings, children, nieces and nephews,
and Sontag.
18. Annie Leibovitz
Lennon and Yoko
•For the portrait Leibovitz imagined
that the two would pose together nude.
•Lennon disrobed, but Ono refused to
take off her pants. Leibovitz “was kinda
disappointed,”
•Several hours later, Lennon was shot
dead in front of his apartment.
1980 Rolling Stone Magazine
19. Annie Leibovitz
In 1970 Leibovitz approached Jann
Wenner, founding editor of Rolling Stone,
which he’d recently launched and was
operating out of San Francisco. Impressed
with her portfolio, Wenner gave Leibovitz
her first assignment: shoot John Lennon.
Leibovitz’s black-and-white portrait of the
shaggy-looking Beatle graced the cover of
the January 21, 1971 issue.
Two years later she was named Rolling
Stone chief photographer.
Photograph opposite Rolling stones
guitarist Keith Richards.
20. Annie Leibovitz
Portrait of the queen photographed
in 2007.
Leibovitz focus on the opulent
surroundings and the regal state
that defines British royalty.
Quality of light a defining aspect of
the composition.
This is one o Annie’s most formal
images.
21. Annie Leibovitz
Conclusions.
•A very successful commercial photographer
•Early career more adventurous working with rock musicians and
embracing their lifestyle.
•Editorial work popularist, (not much depth) but able to convey the
personality of celebrities.
•Personal work more considered (Sarajevo), her relationship with
Sonntag influenced her photographic approach.
•Capable of taking diverse commissions.
•Balances commercial and personal work.