Annie Leibovitz, Caitlyn Jenner and Vanity Fair.

Keith

Keith

The best camera is one that still works!
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She has produced many memorable images over the years but her latest Vanity Fair cover has a level of uniqueness that sets it aside from the others IMO.

Bruce Jenner's decision to officially become Caitlyn Jenner and announce it to the world via Vanity Fair has probably shocked many who remember the Olympic gold medal winning track and field star from the seventies.

Love or hate Leibovitz she is still there at the cutting edge of celebrity photography ... and the image on the front of the latest Vanity Fair of this very high profile trans gender celebrity is probably one of the most significant she has done.
 
My wife has given me two of her books, "At Work" and "Pilgrimage" that I would recommend if you are a fan of hers. She has worked very hard to get to the notoriety and following she has now. She makes beautiful photographs even though some of her subjects are difficult people. Does her photography look even better because of the people she photographs? I think it does because I can immediately engage in the story by recognizing folks she photographs.

I have subscribed to Vanity Fair for years just for the photography; however, another feature I find many of the stories quite interesting.
 
Nice photo reminds of the corner photographs Irving Penn made in the 1950's 60's. Never understood the hate directed at Annie Leibovitz she is a good photographer though apparently not the easiest Person but she is good at what she does. She also can make ordinary persons look good not only stars. Her Pirelli calendar is also one of the better ones.

Thanks for the link.
 
It's photos like this that make us think and behave differently. what else could a photographer want for posterity?
 
back alley said:
she is one of the greats...much of her work has had impact on many of us...
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Totally agree. For me and in my opinion I think her strongest work was documenting her partners (Sontag's) struggle with cancer. It was surely her most personal work. But she definitely had a HUGE impact on the medium.
 
DominikDUK said:
Nice photo reminds of the corner photographs Irving Penn made in the 1950's 60's. Never understood the hate directed at Annie Leibovitz she is a good photographer though apparently not the easiest Person but she is good at what she does. She also can make ordinary persons look good not only stars. Her Pirelli calendar is also one of the better ones.

Thanks for the link.
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I agree completely, but then a lot of people seem to enjoy raging against the 'taller flowers among the grass.' She's far from my favourite but you have to respect the hard work and dedication (don't you?) even if much of it may be promotional - it's business after all
 
airfrogusmc said:
Totally agree. For me and in my opinion I think her strongest work was documenting her partners (Sontag's) struggle with cancer. It was surely her most personal work. But she definitely had a HUGE impact on the medium.
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+1 the Sontag work must have been wrenching for her, almost seems like her camera gave her breath and space.
 
It's a great career and product she consistently produces. I love here images or I hate them. Either way it's nice to view a photographer that invokes an emotion.

As celebrity photos go she has many that are imo much more sincere.
Her photo of the queen from several years ago will prove more timelessly "Leibowitz".

This whole Jenner story looses it's authenticity when you consider that $100Million dollar contract.... Call me a cynic. (sorry to bring it up)
 
Leibovitz has done so many powerful photos over the years. When I hear her name the first thing that comes to mind is John Lennon and Yoko Ono.

You might not realize this down under, Keith: the sad part about the Caitlyn Jenner / Vanity Fair story is that Caitlyn is more known as a member of the Kardashian clan than as former gold medal winner.

Roland.
 
Where I'm it is kind of her and nothing else on the surface if you want to learn about photographer. So, unavoidably, I ended up watching DVD about her, with photographs.

It gave me two big lessons.

#1 from her RS time. How she was doing the same and going with "assignments" everywhere and getting them used to her and the presence of the camera. How long it takes...

#2 from celebrities work. How important is preparation. Like in this shot with many people staged outdoor, which took long time to prepare, but it was ultra fast to take.

Her availability to take right portrait is very impressive for me and the dude who fails most of the times.

But for celebrities portraits to look and enjoy as work of the master... YOUSUF KARSH is the one to me.
 
Ned Bojic said:
The "hate" is just a overhyped internet word.

Your comment about she being far from your favorite can easily be understood as hatred by the internet machine.

There's no hate against her. Only people voicing that she is not their favorote artist. That's all. And no, it's not a jealousy thing. Unless you are jealous of her?

I don't follow her work but she's good, of course.
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I'm not entirely sure why you would imagine that I believe its a 'jealousy thing,' as I made no mention of jealousy. I also made no mention of hate, to be pedantic, merely quoting Dominik and agreeing with his sentiment.

If there's no hatred of her or her work and I'm only joining in with those voicing that she is not my favourite artist then I doubt there's much that even the internet machine can misunderstand.
 
DominikDUK said:
Nice photo reminds of the corner photographs Irving Penn made in the 1950's 60's. Never understood the hate directed at Annie Leibovitz she is a good photographer though apparently not the easiest Person but she is good at what she does. She also can make ordinary persons look good not only stars. Her Pirelli calendar is also one of the better ones.

Thanks for the link.
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Marc Hauser really caught some flack for his corner shots which he said was a nod to Penn.
I like this quote by Picasso.
"Bad artists copy, Good artists steal"

Though I prefer a lot more spontaneity in photographs I do admire her for what she as a photographer has achieved. And again her work when Sontag was fighting cancer is indeed powerful.
 
It's good to have her back making beautiful pictures. So many things went sideways on her that I didn't expect it.

B2 (;->
 
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