Annie Leibovitz Goes Nuts

[bmattock]

Newsweek Article on Crazy Annie

Annie Leibovitz photographs New York Times headquarters construction

August 1, 2005, 8:16 PM EDT

NEW YORK (AP) _ Photographer Annie Leibovitz, known for her portraits of celebrities, is documenting the construction of The New York Times' new Manhattan headquarters.

Leibovitz began the two-year project in July and is expected to regularly take pictures of the building's construction and initial occupancy as the Times and other companies begin moving in in early 2007, developer Forest City Ratner Cos. said Monday in a statement.

The photographs will be used by real estate brokers to market the 52-story building and by Forest City Ratner in a public gallery on the sidewalk outside the construction site, at Eighth Avenue between 40th and 41st streets, opposite the Port Authority Bus Terminal, one of the city's busiest areas.

As the building rises, Leibovitz will scale the girders to take close-up pictures of the construction and panoramic shots of the city.

Leibovitz said it was a photographer's dream to document such a long-term project.

"In this age of advanced technology, it is beautiful to see men and women workers still building skyscrapers with their own hands," she said in the Forest City statement.

The New York Times Building, as designed, is wrapped in ceramic rods, reminiscent of a lace curtain, which harness light and send it deep inside the building. The Times Square building replaces a row of rundown businesses that included an adult video store, a deli, a barbershop, an electronics store and a tavern.

OK, so she's not crazy. But still...

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[JimL]

Well I'm impressed, a 52 story building is some publicity stunt! 😀

 

[rover]

Well, I agree, she is crazy. I don't know if I would be up to scaling gerters, but I have to admit that I would love to be able to photograph a project like this. It has the makings of a National Geographic special.

 

[kshapero]

I am photographing my grandson building a 9 inch skyscaper out of popsicle sticks. Can't wait to see this "project" go up.

 

[airds]

Thought there was already famous pics of steel erectors building a N.Y skycraper ages ago - sitting on a 6" beam eating their lunch, etc, etc ?


Edit: Yup it's the Rockefeller Center New York in 1932 'Lunch Atop a Skyscraper' by Charles C. Ebbets

 

[Nick R.]

You guys ever read the dates on these things?

 

[airds]

You guys ever read the dates on these things?

Do you ?

"Leibovitz began the two-year project in July" - as at August 1, 2005.

- so er-rr, she's still at it ......

 

[ERV]

Where have you guys been? The pictures have been up on the building for over a year now. Publicity stunt? Maybe..
Great assignment that no one on this forum (straight and/or crazy, or not..) would turn down? More like it.

 

[airds]

Where have you guys been? The pictures have been up on the building for over a year now.

Scotland - so can't say I noticed 🙂

 

[ERV]

Scotland - so can't say I noticed 🙂

well, that's no excuse!
🙂