Annie Leibovitz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Annie Leibovitz
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Leibovitz in 2008
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| Born |
Anna-Lou Leibovitz
October 2, 1949 Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S.
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| Education | San Francisco Art Institute |
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| Partner(s) | Susan Sontag (1989–2004; Sontag's death) |
| Awards | Commandeur, Ordre des Arts et des Lettres |
Annie Leibovitz (born October 2, 1949) is a famous American portrait photographer. She is known for her amazing pictures, especially of celebrities.
One of her most famous photos is a Polaroid picture of John Lennon and Yoko Ono. She took it just hours before Lennon's death. This photo became a very famous cover for Rolling Stone magazine. The Library of Congress has called her a "Living Legend." She was also the first woman to have a special art show at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Annie Leibovitz was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, on October 2, 1949. She was one of six children. Her father was in the U.S. Air Force, so her family moved around a lot. She took her first pictures when her father was stationed in the Philippines. Her mother, who loved dance, music, and painting, helped Annie discover her passion for art.
Annie went to San Francisco Art Institute. She first studied painting, hoping to become an art teacher. But after taking a photography class, she changed her focus to photography. She was inspired by other great photographers. She spent several years improving her photography skills. During this time, she also worked different jobs, including a few months on a farm community called a kibbutz in Amir, Israel.
Photography Career
Annie Leibovitz has used many different cameras throughout her career. For many years, her favorite was a Mamiya RZ67. She has also used cameras like the Hasselblad, Minolta, Nikon, Fuji, and Canon.
Working for Rolling Stone
In 1970, Annie Leibovitz started working for Rolling Stone magazine as a staff photographer. By 1973, she became the chief photographer. She worked there for 10 years, until 1983. Her close-up photos of famous people helped create the unique look of Rolling Stone.
Annie learned that she could take photos for magazines and also take personal pictures of her family. She felt that photographing her family was the most important. She said that you can only get such personal photos with people you love, who are willing to share their lives with you.
Photographing The Rolling Stones
Annie Leibovitz photographed the Rolling Stones in 1971 and 1972. She also traveled with them as their official photographer during their 1975 tour. One of her favorite photos from that tour was of Mick Jagger in an elevator.
The John Lennon Photo
On December 8, 1980, Annie Leibovitz had a photo shoot with John Lennon for Rolling Stone. She wanted to take a picture of just Lennon. However, Lennon insisted that both he and Yoko Ono be in the photo. Annie then decided to create a picture similar to their Double Fantasy album cover.
She asked John to take off his clothes and curl up next to Yoko on the floor. Annie remembered that Yoko offered to take off her top, but Annie told her to keep her clothes on. John curled up next to Yoko, and it looked very strong. Annie felt he looked cold and was clinging to Yoko. When they saw the first instant photo, both John and Yoko were very excited. John told Annie, "You've captured our relationship exactly. Promise me it'll be on the cover." They shook hands on it.
Annie Leibovitz was the last person to professionally photograph John Lennon. He was shot and killed five hours later. About a month later, Rolling Stone published his "last image" for grieving music fans.
Working for Vanity Fair and Vogue
In 1983, Annie Leibovitz started working for Vanity Fair magazine. Her new style used strong lighting, bold colors, and interesting poses.
In 1987, she won an award for her photos in an international ad campaign for American Express.
In 1991, Annie Leibovitz had a big art show at the National Portrait Gallery in London. She was only the second living portrait artist and the first woman to have a show there. That same year, the French government gave her a special award for her contributions to art. Also in 1991, she took a famous photo from high up on the Chrysler Building in Manhattan. She photographed a dancer on one of the building's eagle statues.
In 1998, Annie Leibovitz also began working regularly for Vogue magazine.
Recent Work
Museum Shows
In 2007, a large show of Annie Leibovitz's work was held at the Brooklyn Museum. The show was based on her book, Annie Leibovitz: A Photographer's Life, 1990–2005. It included many of her famous celebrity photos and also personal photos of her family and friends. This show later traveled to seven other cities, including Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and Berlin. The exhibition featured 200 photographs.
Other Projects
- In 2007, The Walt Disney Company hired her. She took a series of photos with celebrities dressed as Disney characters for their "Year of a Million Dreams" campaign.
- In 2011, she had an exhibit in Moscow. She also taught an online photography class in 2017.
- In 2014, she photographed Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, and their daughter North West for Vanity Fair.
- From 2016 to 2017, her exhibit "WOMEN: New Portraits" traveled to 10 cities. It showed how the roles of women are changing.
- In 2023, the furniture company IKEA asked her to create 25 portraits. These photos show different aspects of "life at home."
Pirelli Calendar
In 2015, Annie Leibovitz was the main photographer for the 2016 Pirelli calendar. This calendar featured famous women like Amy Schumer, Serena Williams, and Patti Smith. She had also worked on the Pirelli calendar in 2000.
Personal Life
Children
Annie Leibovitz has three daughters. Her first daughter, Sarah Cameron Leibovitz, was born in October 2001. Annie was 52 years old at the time. Her twin daughters, Susan and Samuelle, were born in May 2005.
Relationships
Annie Leibovitz had a close relationship with writer Susan Sontag from 1989 until Sontag's death in 2004. Annie has described their relationship as a "love story."
Notable Photographs
Annie Leibovitz has taken many iconic photographs. Here are some of them:
- John Lennon and Yoko Ono for the January 22, 1981, Rolling Stone cover. This was taken the day Lennon was murdered. Annie called it "the photograph of my life."
- Linda Ronstadt in a red slip, reaching for water, for a 1976 Rolling Stone cover.
- Demi Moore for two famous Vanity Fair covers: More Demi Moore (1991) and Demi's Birthday Suit (1992).
- Whoopi Goldberg lying in a bathtub full of milk, shot from above.
- Dolly Parton posing while Arnold Schwarzenegger flexes his muscles behind her, for Rolling Stone in 1977.
- Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi as The Blues Brothers, with their faces painted blue.
- Keira Knightley and Scarlett Johansson with Tom Ford for a Vanity Fair cover in 2006.
- Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to the United States in 2007, and again in 2016 for her 90th birthday.
- Sting, covered in mud in the desert to blend in.
- Cyndi Lauper for her She's So Unusual and True Colors album covers.
- Bruce Springsteen for his Born in the U.S.A. and Tunnel of Love album covers.
- Gisele Bündchen and LeBron James for the April 2008 cover of Vogue America.
- Miley Cyrus's Vanity Fair photo.
- Michael Jackson twice for Vanity Fair magazine covers.
- The Family of Barack Obama in the White House.
- Lady Gaga for Vogue and Vanity Fair.
- Rihanna for Vogue in 2011 and 2012.
- The cast of Les Misérables for Vogue in 2012.
- Kim Kardashian, Kanye West and their daughter North for Vogue in 2014.
- The cast of Star Wars: The Force Awakens for Vanity Fair in 2015.
- Caitlyn Jenner for Vanity Fair in 2015.
- Mark Zuckerberg and his pregnant wife Priscilla Chan in 2015.
- Adele for Vogue in 2016.
- Serena Williams on the cover of Vanity Fair in August 2017, while pregnant.
- Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for Vogue during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Awards
Annie Leibovitz has received many awards for her photography, including:
- 2018: Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Rhode Island School of Design
- 2016: Inducted into the International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum
- 2015: Paez Medal of Art
- 2013: Prince of Asturias Award for Communication
- 2009: The Royal Photographic Society's Centenary Medal
- 2003: The Lucie Awards
- 1999: ADC Hall of Fame
Images for kids
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Leibovitz in 2008
See also
In Spanish: Annie Leibovitz para niños
