Firstly, as a photorapher, I cannot stress the importance of constantly embracing the works of other photographers. For both inspiration and personal growth in your work.
Todays photographer I encourage you to check out is the famous Annie Leibovitz.
Born October 2nd, 1949 and from Connecticut, USA - Leibovitz led a life on the road as a child. Her father was a US Air Force Lieurentant and her mother, a dance instructor.
Her Father's career took her and the rest of her family on many journeys across American.
She often talks about how the window of the car they traveled in became like a frame as to how she saw the world outside.
Liebovitz first began taking pictures as a child when her father was stationed in the Philippines during the Vietnam War. She used the darkroom facilities on the army camp to create some of her first photographs.
She became interested in art during her time in high school and studied painting several years later at the San Fransisco Art Institute. From this, she developed her photography and supported herself working various jobs.
Leibovitz briefly lived on an Israeli kibbutz and returned to American in 1970. She made a break in the photoraphy world when applying for a job with the up and comoing, Rolling Stone Magazine. Within two years she was promoted to chief photographer.
Many opportunities became of her positition with Rolling Stone Magazine, including an assignment to accompany rockstars, The Rolling Stones, on their 1975 international tour.
Her experience with Rolling Stones magazine helped Leibovitz develop her style pf photography and had many famous cover images with the magazine.
Perhaps one of the most famous images was the last ever photograph taken of John Lennon, from the globally succesfull, British band, The Beatles.
Annie was the last photographer to capture John Lennon before he was tragically shot four times outside his New York apartment in The Dakota Building on 8th December 1980. His killer, Mark David Chapman is still on death row to this day.
Chapman waited at the scene of the crime reading (what is now) a modern classic - 'The Catcher in the Rye' by Jerome David Salinger.
 |
| The last photography of John Lennon, featuring his wife, Yoko. By Annie Liebovitz - just hours before his death. |
Annie progressed her magazine work and was employed in 1983 by entertainment magazine, 'Vanity Fair.'
Her images here took a very creative turn, with her subjects being photographed often provocatively or in a striking setting or location.
Perhaps the image that is most famous from her Vanity Fair career was that of Demi Moore, featured as Vanity Fairs cover photo for the 1991August issue.
 |
| Another famous cover photo from Annie Leibovitz |
Another clever image put together by the photographer featured Whoopi Goldberg submerged in a bath full of milk!
 |
| Whoopi Goldverg - By Annie Leibovitz |
Annie's photography began to capture the characters and personalities of the people she photographed. A true talent for those in the world of portrait photography.
Annie has been photographing constantly throughout her career, not only the style of images I have featured here, but many personal works of her own too.
In 1999 she published a book entitled 'Women' which feature an essay from her partner and novelist, Susan Sontag.
The book featured many portraits of women, as it's title would suggest.
Susan Sontag played a large role in Annie's life, not only as a partner, but as an artistic inspiration and someone to relate to. Her relationship with Sontag was slowly to come to a tragic end when Susan died of Acute Myeloid Leukemia - which is a cancer of a line of blood cells. This illness lasted and was chronicled by her son, David Rieff. Annie also played her part in documenting the writers life through her camera lens.
The couple had spent fifteen years together and in the days after Susan's death, Annie began collecting photographs of her for a small book to be given out at her memorial service.
Leibovitz said in an interview that the work, titled 'The Photographers Life 1990-2005' was her most important work.
"It's the most intimate, it tells the best story, and I care about it"
Leibovitz is still working to this day, constantly expanding her (already massive) archive of photography.
She currently still works for Vanity Fair Magazine and frequently features cover images still.
One of the latest being of the music, fashion, art and overall globally a successful artist - Lady Gaga.
Here are a few other famous images you may recognize, all down to the talent of Annie Leibovitz.
 |
| Johnny Depp and Kate Moss |
 |
| Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA" cover |
 |
| The late Michael Jackson - Vanity Fair Magazine |
 |
| Artist Keith Haring - NYC 1986 |
 |
| 7 times Tour de France winner, and Cancer surivior Lance Armstrong |
 |
| President Obamas Family Portrait |
You can see Leibovitz work ventures into many different styles of photography, all f which is successful creates no matter what the style, campaign or people involved are.
If you are interested in seeing more of the work from Leibovitz check out Vanity Fair magazine.
Alternatively, do a bit of browsing in the internet, there is a world of information on this female success of the photography world.
Some of her most recent images were created for Walt Dinsey, and I really recommend any photographers out there looking for their work to have a different approach, to check these ones out!
That's all for now on the wonderful work of Annie Leibovitz.
 |
| Annie at Vanity Fair |
There will be more inspirational photographers to follow on the blog soon!
Follow my Facebook and Twitter page for more updates:
No comments:
Post a Comment