I like this image of Scarlett Johanson from Annie's recent shoot for Disney, known as her disney dream series. This series of photos shows many A-list celebirites taking on a fictional character, these photos show the youth behind such poised and classy celebrities.
This photograph of the Queen, shot by Annie Leibovitz shows the queen looking comfortable in her environment. She doesn't look out of place or uncomfortable she looks perfectly placed in this photo, with the lighting and colours around her all working in harmony to make her the main focal point.
This clip from Annie Leibovitz' Marie Antoinette shoot for Vouge it shows how they shot the photos to achieve the final product. I really like this clip as it shows her style of photographing.
I like this image taken for
Annie Leibovitz’ Marie Antoinette inspired photo shoot for Vouge. I like the
traditional look to this photo and I also like the way the masks on the faces
add a sense of darkness and unknown to the photo. The way no eye contact is
given in the photo give more depth to the image looking as if there is more
beyond the lens. The way she is looking at him but he has his back turned to
her creates a sense of unreturned love for one partner. I like the carriage
used as it is very old Victorian style its light colours allow her to standout
with her black dress making her look less innocent.
One of the art elements
displayed in the photograph is the element of colour; the colours that are
produced in this image contrast well against each other. Therefore making the
main focal point (the male & female) stand out against the twilight
background through the use of dark costumes allowing the characters to become
the dominant features in the photograph. The pastel colours used on the
carriage adds an overall a feel of calming to the final product, although the
lady dressed in black becomes the focus of the photograph. The other element
that I believe is evident in this photograph is the element of shape. The
carriage itself particularly demonstrates this with the array of different
shapes presented from the door to the windows, then with the large round wheel
at the back combines the different shapes together to display an old Victorian
style carriage. They draw your attention with the use of gold window tracings
and outlines almost framing objects of emphasis (the lady stepping off the
carriage). Also there is a certain principle of design that is shown to the
viewer. I believe this principle is proportion.
This principle is displayed
through the placement of the man and woman; they all look as if they are on the
same level. The lady stepping onto the stairs to get off the carriage and the
man being on the ground placed in a position in which he is almost on the same
level as her. The trees in the foreground of the photo are in proportion with
the carriage creating a sense of balance and unity. The wheels on the carriage
are at a height in which they are at level with the man, with the feathers on
top of the carriage creating a sense of height being at the same level as the
lady coming off the carriage.
Some of Annie Leibovitz’
influences included Cartier-Bresson, Robert Frank and Richard Avedon.
Cartier-Bresson was her first influence as it was the first book she read in
regard to photography making her realise what it actually meant to be a
photographer. Robert Franks and Cartier-Bresson were at the San Francisco Art
Institute at the same time in which Annie Leibovitz was studying at the
institute. She liked the way their photos were taken in a style of personal
rampage, taken in a graphic yet composed way, this was a way in which she was
taught to replicate. Once she started her job at rolling stones she realised
what was being done in magazine and they amounts of work that went into
producing fashion magazines. This was when she began to look to Richard Avedon
and his portraits, she saw him as a ‘powerful example’. When Leibovitz was
raking her photos it was during the time of the Vietnam War and through the
peace movement, this is reflected through her photos especially of John Lennon
and his wife it is a raw image that is untouched and peaceful.Her big break was in 1975 when she was on
tour with Rolling Stones this time was during the peace movements of America.
What
styles and techniques are shown in their photos?
Annie Leibovitz has a unique
style and technique. Her main objective is to make her subject comfortable in
the photographs; this is shown through placing her subject in an environment in
which they feel comfortable. Her photos capture the characters and attitudes
behind the celebrity. Leibovitz generally will work with bold colours and
unexpected poses in her photos this is known as her trademark technique. She
draws the attention of the viewers with her almost provocative and eye catching
photos; this is shown as she is not afraid to show what no one else does. Her
lens choice was always 35mm as it was more environmental, she chose this lens
because she knew you could not come close to the subject; Annie Leibovitz
considered coming close to the subject as being boring. Annie Leibovitz sees her job
allowing her to capture a part of a person’s life in a few minutes.
This photograph of Johnny Depp isn't as provocative as the others but it does allow Johnny to be comfortable in his environment being himself. The colours in the photo are bold against the rather subtle background colours therefore illustrating Annie's trademark technique.
Her more recent photos all have
the underlying theme of youth and life. Majority of her portraits have some
form of link to fairy tales and or childhood films. In her celebrity portraits the
celebrity personality takes on a role that is unique to their personality
majority of them are more serious, rather than more young and happy photo.
I really like this photo of the Obama family, they look really comfortable in the photo, it shows them being themselves. They don't look like they're acting they look really natural and happy.
Annie Leibovitz specialises in celebrity portraits. Her most recent works are those for Walt Disney, the Disney dream series showcases celebrities taking on the roles of the most common fairy tales. They are quite comical and cartoon like yet they showcase the essence of youth behind the A-list celebrities. She has also recently shot some images for Vouge, once again with the underlying theme of youth with the overall concept being either Wizard of Oz or Alice in Wonderland. Her most famous cover’s is the collector’s item of John Lennon curled around his fully clothed wife Yoko Ono, taken just hours before his death on December 8th1980.
This image shows how Annie Leibovitz is not afraid to shoot the most controversial shots in order to convey the exact message she wants to get across whilst creating a sense of individual an portrait. I personally don't like this photo as much as her others because it doesn't show her usual theme of fictional worlds and fantasy.
Annie
Leibovitz is Hollywood's it photographer. Annie started her journey as a
photographer off at Rolling Stone where she was given her big break touring
with the band the 'Rolling Stones'. She then moved onto photographing for
Vanity Fair shooting the best of the best in Hollywood. I like Annie's style
and technique; her photographs that are produced allow the celebrity to feel
comfortable in front of the camera and in their environment no matter how controversial
the image is on the page.
I like this clip from Annie Leibovitz' documentary 'Life behnind a Lens' as it shows both sides to Annie's life. It shows both her family life in one sense and then her life that is in fact behind a lens.
Biography;
Annie Leibovitz
Annie Leibovitz was born in
Waterbury, Connecticut on the 2nd of October 1949 she was one of six
children born to Sam (an air force lieutenant) and Marilyn Leibovitz (a modern
dance teacher). In 1967 she went on to study at San Francisco Art Institute
whilst studying at the Art Institute she took night classes in photography. Leibovitz
returned to the U.S in 1970 after living for a short period of time in Israeli
upon returning she applied for a job with the new emerging magazine ‘Rolling Stones’
this was her ‘big break’. Whilst working at Rolling Stones she was promoted to
chief photographer, a title in which she held for the next 10 years. This job
allowed Annie to tour with the Rolling Stones (the band) on their 1975
international tour. This magazine was where she developed her unique technique
of portrait photographs with the use of bold colours and poses. In 1983 she
left Rolling Stones to work for the magazine Vanity Fair which specialised in
entertainment journalism, whilst working for Vanity Fair she photographed
presidents, icons and teen heartthrobs, including some very controversial
images. Annie still carries on her trademark and unique style to this day at
Vanity Fair & Vogue.
