Photograph analysis

1. Annie
Leibovitz

2. Biography
 Annie Leibovitz, considered one of America's best portrait photographers, developed her trademark use of bold
colours and poses while at 'Rolling Stone.‘
 Photographer Annie Leibovitz was born on October 2, 1949, in Waterbury, Connecticut. In 1970 she landed a
job at Rolling Stone and went on to create a distinctive look for the publication as chief photographer. In 1983
she began working for the entertainment magazine Vanity Fair, continuing to produce images that would be
deemed iconic and provocative. Having also worked on high-profile advertising campaigns, Leibovitz's images
have been showcased in several books and major exhibitions around the world.
 Anna-Lou Leibovitz was born on October 2, 1949, in Waterbury, Connecticut. She was one of six children born
to Sam, an Air Force lieutenant, and Marilyn Leibovitz, a modern dance instructor. In 1967, Leibovitz enrolled
at the San Francisco Art Institute, where (although initially studying painting) she developed a love for
photography.
 After living briefly on an Israeli kibbutz, the statuesque Leibovitz returned to the U.S. and applied for a job
with the start-up rock music magazine Rolling Stone in 1970. Impressed with Leibovitz’s portfolio, which
included an image of counter-culture icon Allen Ginsberg, editor Jann Wenner offered her a job as a staff
photographer. Within two years, the 23-year-old Leibovitz was promoted to chief photographer, a title she
would hold for the next decade. Her position with the magazine afforded her the opportunity to accompany
the Rolling Stones band on their 1975 international tour, though she lost herself from the experience and
ended up grappling with a crippling drug addiction.
 While with Rolling Stone, Leibovitz developed her trademark technique, which involved the use of bold
primary colours and surprising poses, as seen with a 1979 Bette Midler cover inspired by the rock music
film The Rose. Leibovitz is credited with making many Rolling Stone covers collector's items, including an issue
that featured a nude John Lennon curled around his fully clothed wife, Yoko Ono. Taken on December 8, 1980,
Leibovitz’s Polaroid of the former Beatle was shot just hours before his death.

3. Rule of thirds: The
subject is in the
centre of this image
meaning that
straight away she is
the first thing that
we notice.
The lighting around
the subjects body is
dark whereas the
subject herself is
brightly lit, this
creates a sense of
significance towards
the subject.
This image is a close
up shot of the
subjects face this
creates a sense of
power towards her.
The photographer uses
a fast shutter speed to
reduce motion blur. In
this case it keeps the
subjects face and body
in clear focus.
The lighting behind the
subject is awkwardly lit
all around, this gives the
image a more awkward
feel to it.
This image is a
portraiture image,
we know this as
we can see the
subjects facial
expression clearly.

4. The photograph
is in shallow
focus, this is
done to create a
sense of
significance
towards the
subject as he is
the only part of
the photo in the
foreground that
is in focus.
This image is in
black and white
therefore
creating a feeling
of tension
surrounding the
subject.
This is a
portraiture
image as you can
clearly see the
subjects facial
expressions.
Swans are usually portrayed as dangerous animals. Because the subject is holding
it around his neck this possibly portrays a sense of danger towards the image.
Rule of Thirds:
there is nothing
but out of focus
grass in the
centre of this
image meaning
that the main
focal point is
more to the right
of the image as
this is where the
main subject is
situated in the
photograph.
The
photographer
uses a fast
shutter speed to
reduce motion
blur. In this case
it keeps both the
subjects in clear
focus.

5. This is a
portraiture
photograph as
you can clearly
see both the
subjects facial
expressions.
The lighting
used in the
background of
the photograph
is dark, this
portrays a
more miserable
sense of
atmosphere.
The lighting
used on the
subjects faces
is light this is
so that their
faces are the
first thing we
notice when
looking at the
image.
This is a shallow
focus image
meaning that
the background
is out of focus
whereas the
foreground,
specifically the
subjects are in
focus. This is
because the
photographer
wants you to
focus on the
subject and
nothing more.
The
photographer
uses a fast
shutter speed to
reduce motion
blur. In this case
it keeps both
subjects in clear
focus.