Annie Leibovitz - Influences

Who and what were they influenced by?

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.