Annie Leibovitz at Work
The name Annie Liebovitz is synonymous with brilliant portraiture the world over. For almost half a century, she’s been documenting the contemporary world with an artist’s eye, wit, and an uncanny ability to personalise even the most widely known subjects. No wonder she’s considered one of the most influential photographers of our time.
Recently, Phaidon published a revised and updated edition of the bestselling book, Annie Leibovitz at Work. First released in 2008, and recently out of print, the book reveals the inner workings of Leibovitz’s practice, offering details of her creative process and legendary career, from her early years as a young photographer for Rolling Stone to her recent work at Vanity Fair and Vogue. It’s a fascinating and insightful glimpse into Liebovitz, how she works, and what’s behind the stunning portraits she produces.
This latest version of the book includes three new chapters that feature photographs taken since the original publication’s release as well as Leibovitz’s reflections on the relationship between place and portraiture, with examples of her work in or near the homes of artists such as Emily Dickinson, Virginia Woolf, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Sally Mann.
Besides detailed explanations of some of her best known works, the books also includes information on the gear Liebovitz relies on, and why, along with a Q&A section of the 10 most-asked questions she’s faced during her career, such as “What advice do you have for a young photographer who is just starting out?” and “How is photographing a celebrity different from photographing a regular person?”. It also includes tips, technical preferences, and advice for photographers.
Throughout the book, Leibovitz takes the reader on a journey through some of her most unforgettable photographs and how they came to be. She relates how she bought her first real camera in Japan, a Minolta SR-T101 in 1967, while subsequent chapters describe her coverage of the Nixon resignation in 1974, and the stories behind other memorable shoots, including the Rolling Stones tour in 1975, the famous session with John Lennon and Yoko Ono just hours before he was assassinated, Whoopi Goldberg in a bathtub of milk, and portraits of Queen Elizabeth II, among many others.
About Anne Liebovitz
Annie Leibovitz is one of the most influential photographers of our time. For nearly five decades, her distinctive portraits have appeared on the covers of Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, and Vogue. She has received many honours, including the International Center of Photography’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the Centenary Medal of the Royal Photographic Society, the Wexner Prize, and the Prince of Asturias Award for Communication and Humanities. She is a Commendeur in the French government’s Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and has been designated a Living Legend by the Library of Congress.
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