Women's Work

8th December 2009

Post with 10 notes

Annie Leibovitz

When you think of women in photography, the name Annie Leibovitz will undoubtedly come up.  Unfortunately, now when you think of massive loans and archives of photos as collateral, her name will also come up.  In order to secure a loan to cover debts of $24 million, Leibovitz has basically pawned the copyrights to her entire catalogue of photographs- and what a catalogue it is.

Annie Leibovitz, John Lennon and Yoko Ono

Some of Leibovitz’s most well-known and iconic photographs are included in “Photographs Annie Leibovitz 1970-1990”.  One prominent photograph is the Rolling Stone cover featuring John Lennon and Yoko Ono taken on the day of Lennon’s death.  The picture is so intriguing because of their pose; Lennon is nude while Yoko Ono is fully clothed and he is both embracing and kissing her. It is quite a vulnerable and somehow romantic scene.  There is a certain power Yoko Ono seems to possess because she is clothed, whereas Lennon looks more exposed and powerless without his clothes, which could be indicative of the role each one played in their relationship.  Though Leibovitz’s original intention was for them to both be nude, I think that Yoko Ono being fully clothed really adds something unique to the photo and gives the viewer more to think about upon viewing it.

Annie Leibovitz, Andy Warhol

The portrait of Andy Warhol is another intriguing work of Leibovitz. He is seen holding a camera, as if he were photographing her (or the viewer).  This set-up is interesting not only because this is not a common style of portrait, but also because Warhol is usually the one making art out of other celebrities or people.  While he is the subject now, at the same time, it is as if he is still in his usual position due to the fact that he is holding a camera.

Annie Leibovitz, Clint Eastwood

Annie Leibovitz’s portrayal of Clint Eastwood is very enticing, both in terms of aesthetics and thought behind it.  Due to his tendencies to play rough, edgy men in a lot of his films, Leibovitz chose a western scene as the background. It adds a lot of character to the picture, and even if you are not familiar with Clint Eastwood, chances are you could guess a lot about him from this photo.  The pseudo-smoke created by the dust conveys action and the ropes tying him up make it seem like a scene from a film.  All together, these elements create a fantastic depiction of Eastwood.

Annie Leibovitz, Whoopi Goldberg

Last, but not least, Leibovitz’s portrait of Whoopi Goldberg in a bathtub is a potentially controversial, but certainly incredible photograph.  Annie highlighted Goldberg’s African-American race by posing her in a tub full of white milk. The juxtaposition of the light and the dark lead the viewer to think about race, when they might not under normal circumstances.  Whoopi Goldberg is very active in this picture, with her comical countenance and playful body language, which makes sense; she is most famous for her comedy and willingness to push boundaries.  Another interesting aspect is that although Whoopi is presumed to be naked under the milk, there is nothing remotely sexual about the picture. It is strictly a creative representation of Goldberg and her place in the entertainment industry. In life, Whoopi does not exude sexuality, so it is natural that Annie Leibovitz set up the shot to simply convey the facets of Goldberg’s being that she chooses to expose.

It is a shame that the mind that takes such brilliant photographs does not have the same brilliance when it comes to managing money. Leibovitz’s talents have allowed her to make a seven-figure salary from Vanity and tens of thousands of dollars per day for other shoots, yet it is unclear exactly where all this money has gone.  One thing is for sure, though: regardless of whether the financial issues work out, Annie Leibovitz will be remembered for exceptional photographs, not her exceptional debt.

- - Courtney Borresen

For further reading, see “For Annie Leibovitz, A Fuzzy Financial Picture,” in The New York Times.