Recently, I was able to take a look at Annie Leibovitz's book entitled: A Photographer's Life: 1990-2005, which is a remarkable portfolio depicting her life. The book is hefty so I advise you to sit at a desk before opening it. I don't know exactly how much it weighs, but according to Amazon.com, it will ship at about 8.25 lbs.
The book is amazing.
Photo courtesy of: USA Today.com
In art history classes, I've learned about Leibovitz through slideshow images and viewing parts of a documentary about her. She has taken photos of numerous celebrities and well-known figures in varying poses and juxtapositions. The creative process is interesting because she gives an opportunity to the individual to make a statement.
She describes her childhood, growing up with a family that always moved around. The majority of her time was spent living in the car and taking photos wherever she went. Her work often included honest and vulnerable or witty and whimsical subject matter.
One image, which was not included in the book, was the 1980 photo of John Lennon and Yoko Ono. The photo was taken a few hours before Lennon died. In the photo, Ono was clothed while Lennon was nude and curled up next her. The image was used as the cover for Rolling Stone and no other words were written on the magazine's cover. It truly was a shock for everyone.
Leibovitz included images of her childhood, family, friends, her own three children and other photos rarely seen by the public. She also included her personal accounts with the death of her lover Susan Sontag and her father.
Leibovitz still does photography for various magazines and is renowned for her work. Most people consider it an honor to be have a photograph taken of themselves by her. I definitely recommend this book in order to understand her life and work better. It may be expensive to buy, but at least check it out at the local library or bookstore like Barnes & Nobles or Borders.
Afterwards, you won't view the world the same way, because Leibovitz is showing it in a different lens.
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