pthurst
Established
I love it, the composition, the pose, the lighting and the typical British grey sky too!
Paul
Paul
Leibovitz portrait of the Queen
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Welsh_Italian
Established
I quite like the portrait.
To me there are three elements to this picture: the setting in the room, the sky outside, and the face.
To me, the room signifies tradition and a long constant history, an institution that has been running for a *very* long time. As an institution, it's seen all that can happen and yet still continues (whether it should is another question of course).
The sky outside signifies the gathering clouds with rays of sun trying to break through - what is going on outside? We're not sure because we can only see a glimpse; but either way, it's changeable and uncertain from our PoV. But the face is looking out and seeing all out there.
And the face is calm, maybe faintly amused by the "same old" storm that will end everything ("yet again!") happening outside, but not with resignation: more with curiosity, and deeper than that, a satisfaction that some things will continue. Almost like the face realises that the storms will continue to rage just as the room will stay exactly the same as the years pass by, even if the face will change.
Maybe she's laughing that she could impress her personality so little upon things: she almost looks like she still feels like a young girl put into a mad world and asked to do the impossible; and after doing it, still wondering how she managed.
But then, maybe she's this person stuck in a dead room in fine clothes waiting for a royal portrait when she would rather be outside playing and having fun whatever the weather when she has other responsibilities to meet?
I can relate to this picture even though I'm British and a republican. It shows a wonderful depth to a human being stuck in very strange circumstances.
To me there are three elements to this picture: the setting in the room, the sky outside, and the face.
To me, the room signifies tradition and a long constant history, an institution that has been running for a *very* long time. As an institution, it's seen all that can happen and yet still continues (whether it should is another question of course).
The sky outside signifies the gathering clouds with rays of sun trying to break through - what is going on outside? We're not sure because we can only see a glimpse; but either way, it's changeable and uncertain from our PoV. But the face is looking out and seeing all out there.
And the face is calm, maybe faintly amused by the "same old" storm that will end everything ("yet again!") happening outside, but not with resignation: more with curiosity, and deeper than that, a satisfaction that some things will continue. Almost like the face realises that the storms will continue to rage just as the room will stay exactly the same as the years pass by, even if the face will change.
Maybe she's laughing that she could impress her personality so little upon things: she almost looks like she still feels like a young girl put into a mad world and asked to do the impossible; and after doing it, still wondering how she managed.
But then, maybe she's this person stuck in a dead room in fine clothes waiting for a royal portrait when she would rather be outside playing and having fun whatever the weather when she has other responsibilities to meet?
I can relate to this picture even though I'm British and a republican. It shows a wonderful depth to a human being stuck in very strange circumstances.
FrankS
Registered User
Like I said, we each of us bring our own notions and biases when interpreting a picture - and that's a good thing!
mpt600
Established
I think the one thing that keeps the monarchy going is the hard choice of what to replace it with. Give a politician another lucrative sinecure? President Kinnock, anyone? Blair will be too busy making millions on the lecture tour soon; maybe John Prescott could represent us? Oh dear...
easyrider
Photo addict
I like it
I like it
I like it as well. It creates a mood. IMO it is best not do close-ups of older people. There are a few exceptions. Some Karsh's pix are full face amd he uses lighting well.
Look at the one by the Earl of Snowdon in this batch -- from 2006. It does her no favours IMO:
http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/egallery/images/collection_small/2999843.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/eGallery/exhibits.asp%3Fexhibition%3DQE80%26exhibs%3DQE802K&h=61&w=90&sz=2&hl=en&start=12&tbnid=O5xyuq-6tmFT_M:&tbnh=53&tbnw=78&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dthe%2Bqueen%2Bby%2Bjane%2Bbown%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DISO-8859-1%26sa%3DN
I like it
I like it as well. It creates a mood. IMO it is best not do close-ups of older people. There are a few exceptions. Some Karsh's pix are full face amd he uses lighting well.
Look at the one by the Earl of Snowdon in this batch -- from 2006. It does her no favours IMO:
http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/egallery/images/collection_small/2999843.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/eGallery/exhibits.asp%3Fexhibition%3DQE80%26exhibs%3DQE802K&h=61&w=90&sz=2&hl=en&start=12&tbnid=O5xyuq-6tmFT_M:&tbnh=53&tbnw=78&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dthe%2Bqueen%2Bby%2Bjane%2Bbown%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DISO-8859-1%26sa%3DN
John Camp
Well-known
sooner said:
I remember being in London when suddenly a large band of elaborately dressed cavalrymen rode by on huge horses -- I could instantly appreciate how cavalrymen must have terrified foot soldiers caught out of formation -- followed by the Queen in a coach, doing a little hand wave. I forget what the day was called, but it would have been in late May or early June, I think. Anyway, I was standing next to a couple of people with little flags and noticed that as she passed, tears were running down their cheeks.
That was affecting; however, I basically agree with your take on royalty and aristocracy. I remember reading how Lewis Carroll, at Oxford, would suck up to the young aristocrats, hoping to be like them, as worthless as they might be. That class distinction still hangs on in Britain (and most of Europe, really) although it might be more obvious to Americans, where we tend to worship money (or even work) as opposed to birth. IMHO. 😎
JC
dadsm3
Well-known
It's pretty interesting how some states have a figurehead that's above the common day to day political left/right catfight, someone the whole country can rally around when things go bad. I'm no monarchist (and our Governor General is just a cultural ambassador), but I sometimes envy countries that have someone they can look to that is universally respected and personifies all that is good about their country.
Maybe her family is dysfunctional but I have respect for the woman. And I do like the photograph....so maybe our subjectivity determines our view on this portrait.
Maybe her family is dysfunctional but I have respect for the woman. And I do like the photograph....so maybe our subjectivity determines our view on this portrait.
Bosk
Make photos, not war.
I really like the use of natural light as opposed to artificial lamps, but to me the subject is too small in the frame. I'm guessing this was a deliberate choice to make HRH seem somewhat more human by emphasising her smallness, but call me conservative if you will, I believe such an important subject should dominate a larger portion of the frame in an official portrait. Furthermore I don't like having to squint to make out her features. (though this wouldn't be an issue on a large print)
I wonder what sort of reaction the shot would've received if it didn't bear the Leibovitz name?
I wonder what sort of reaction the shot would've received if it didn't bear the Leibovitz name?
Trius
Waiting on Maitani
I like it very much.
And I like Snowdon's portrait of Her Majesty, 80th birthday. But for entirely different reasons. I think he did everyone a favour with that one.
And I like Snowdon's portrait of Her Majesty, 80th birthday. But for entirely different reasons. I think he did everyone a favour with that one.
donvancleave
Newbie
I read that AL had 30 minutes to get the shot done. I think she usually takes days. The shot looks digital to me.
dazedgonebye
Veteran
donvancleave said:
I would think she would only have limited amount of the Queen's time. Still, they could dress somone up in similar colors and sit them in the chair for as long as they needed to get ready.
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