She was born in 1949 in Connecticut, as the third child of six. Her parents were not her influence to go into photography, her mother was a dancer and her father in the airforce. Just like Ansel Adams, music was a big part of her life. She attended the San Fransisco Art Institute because of her endeavors to write and play music, and also to paint. But after she merely put her toes in the water, she was hooked to photography. After a trip with her parents where she discovered her love and talent for photo, she returned and immediately started some classes at the institute, and was encouraged to continue in that career.
Since she loved the arts, much of her photography is portraits of actors, musicians, and writers. Her first big project, with Rolling Stones magazine, was to shoot the one and only John Lennon. It was her first try, and her first success! She held on to this opportunity and shot many more musicians such as: Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, Bob Marley, Keith Richards, and Mick Jagger. She later went on to even more celebrities, but more actors. For example: Whoopi Goldberg, Demi Moore, Brad Pitt, Keira Knightly, Nicole Kidman, Scarlett Johannson, Ellen DeGeneres, Angelina Jolie, even Suri Cruise with her parents Tom and Katie. More politically famous people she shot were Michael Moore, George Bush and Bill Clinton. Even recently, she photographed Michelle Obama. These portraits showed up in magazines such as New York Times magazine, Vogue, Vanity Fair, the New Yorker and even more.
Leibovitz is an example of a photographer that took a different road than the ones we've studied. She is the more stereotypical version of a big shot photographer, and I researched her to look into the options open to anyone interested in photo.
The photos represented below are of the more famous images that helped Leobovitz climb the ladder. However, most of her strongest works of nude portraits, that would not be appropriate to present here; I'll show the images of celebrities that are clothed.
Bob Marley. The expression on his face mixed with the reputation of his name shows exactly what Rolling Stones was looking for; his passion for music.
Brad Pitt. She coordinated the color of his pants, the couch, and even his skin and hair tone all to match. His pose and expression represents the typical personality of famous actors.
Suri Cruise. This photo contradicts the one before; it shows that these celebrites are actually human and can love their child. The photograph represents the love from each parent to the child in their expressions and ways of holding her.
Michelle Obama. This shows her motherly, responsible, confident and supporting nature.
Angelina Jolie. Perfect portrait-- represents her reputation. (slut)
Lastly,
Keith Richards. Again, typical. Perfect representation.
Annie Leibovitz, as presented above, photographs each portrait telling a story, sending a message, explaining the person.
