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1. ANNIE LEIBOVITZ

2. Biography
Annie Leibovitz was born on October 2, 1949 in Connecticut. She was one of six children born to
Air Force lieutenant, Sam Leibovitz and modern dance instructor Marilyn Leibovitz. In 1967 she
enrolled at the San Francisco Art Institute where she developed a love for photography.
She started working for Rolling Stone magazine in 1970 as chief photographer. She then began
working at Vanity Fair, the work she created here was deemed iconic and provocative.
Annie is renowned for her portrait photography, shooting many celebrities over the years,
including: Allen Ginsberg, Joan Armatrading and even John Lennon on the day of his
assassination. The famous John Lennon shot shows him nude curled around a fully clothes Yoko
Ono.

3. Image Analysis
Here is a photograph by Annie Leibovitz of Meryl
Streep. The shot is a medium close-up with the
point of interest being her face with some kind of
‘beauty’ product. The leading lines for this image
are her arms, leading to the point of interest. With
her fingers she is pulling her cheeks, this signifies
Meryl Streep’s aging in the public eye and how she
attempts to keep her young looks. The colour
scheme for this image is simple, the whites signify
the innocence and pure beauty in her. The slight red
on her cheeks and lipstick cut through the white.
The background of this image is a very dark grey and
makes the model stand out tremendously and
emphasises the point of interest. The lighting of this
image is high-key because of the model being very
clearly in focus and the only visible shadow cast is
on her shoulder caused by her arm. The depth of
field for this image is shallow because the only
entity in focus is the model. In terms of mise-en-
scen, the only clothing we can see is her white shirt,
this keeps the simplicity of the image because your
eye is not drawn to anything other than her face.
Framing wise, The model is centrally located in the
shot. The contrast of colours for this image is high
because all the colours are rich and there is no grey
tint.
Photographic Category
Celebrity
Purpose
This image was used in a gallery with
other famous people’s portraits
Meaning Created
The created in this image is that
Meryl Streep is aging but she still
looks young in her roles.

4. Here is a landscape photograph of Leonardo
DiCaprio taken by Annie Leibovitz. This is a
medium shot which follows the rule of thirds
with DiCaprio on the right of the image and his
face in the golden point. DiCaprio is clearly the
main point of interest in this image, The swan’s
neck would be this image’s leading lines, this
helps draw the audience’s eye to DiCaprio
further.
The colour scheme for this image is black and
white with some grey, very simple palette
however works well. The lighting for this image
is natural because the image was taken in a field.
He is wearing a black turtleneck which is very
high contrast with the white swan he is holding.
DiCaprio’s face seems to be very stern and
serious, this almost makes the swan seem to be
the same way. DiCaprio has his arms around the
swan and this provides a sense of protection
over the swan, adding a captured emotion to the
image.
The depth of field for this image is shallow with
only DiCaprio and the swan in focus while the
grass is slightly out of focus, this draws more
attention to the model and swan.
Photograph Category
Celebrity
Purpose
The purpose of this image was for it to be
used in the popular magazine: Vanity Fair
Meaning Created
The meaning of this image can be
interpreted as yin/yang and the black and
white colourway supports this.

5. Here are two portrait images of Cate Blanchett
taken by Annie Leibovitz. These images are in
black and white with a slightly low contrast
because there is an overlying grey tinge to the
images, this could signify the authenticity of
her craft.
Her facial expressions signifies the ‘laugh now,
cry later’ faces which are heavily connoted
with acting; this anchors the model being able
to express her emotion in her roles on screen.
The leading lines for these images could be her
muscles on her neck which lead up to her face,
the point of interest. The clothing she is
wearing is of a pale colour, this supports the
colour scheme of the images.
The lighting in the images seems to be natural
because we are notified of being outside by
the bush/ hedge in the background.
The framing of these images is the model is
centrally places in both.
Photographic Category
Celebrity
Purpose
The purpose of this image was to be
used in Leibovitz’s gallery along with
other celebrities
Meaning Created
The meaning which this image creates
the sense of ‘laugh now, cry later’

6. Here is a medium shot of Rihanna taken by Annie
Lebovitz. The image is landscape and Rihanna’s
positioning follows the rule of thirds because she
is closer to the right of the image and also her
face is near the golden point.
The point of interest for this image is very clearly
Rihanna, her red hair is incredibly high contrast
and stands out compared to the other parts of
the image. The background is of the sea with the
horizon visible. The sun is lighting for the image,
meaning the lighting is natural however there is a
shine upon her face, emphasised by make-up and
camera flash.
The dress Rihanna is wearing is essentially
transparent except the roses. The red roses fit
with the colour of her hair, supporting the colour
scheme. Her lip-stick also supports the red aspect
of the colour scheme. This has connotations of
love and desire which fits perfectly with Rihanna
and her affect on the audience.
The leading lines for this image could be her
extended arms leading to her body and face.
The depth of field for this image would be
considered deep, although the point of interest
clearly maintains importance.
Photographic Category
Celebrity
Purpose
This photograph would have been used for
promotion for the celebrity, placement in a
magazine or to be featured in the
photographer's gallery.
Meaning Created
The meaning created by this image comes
from the mise-en-scen and the colours in the
image.

7. Here is a portrait, medium-long shot taken by Annie
Leibovitz of a naked John Lennon curled around a fully
clothed Yoko Ono. This image was the last image was
taken shortly before Lennon’s assassination which only
adds to the rawness of the picture.
The lack of clothing on Lennon signifies a pure human
in the simplest form, he isn’t conforming to society’s
expectation and this shocks the audience. Yoko Ono’s
clothing is very dark made up of dark blue and black,
this allows Lennon to stand out even further.
The lighting for this image for this image can be
identified by the shadow cast from Lennon’s left foot
and also Ono’s ear-ring is reflecting the light back,
drawing attention to it and Ono’s face after the
audience’s eye drifts away from Lennon.
The background of this image is the same colour as
Lennon’s naked body, this helps symbolically because
if Ono was also naked, they would both blend into the
background.
The leading lines for this image are Lennon’s leg and
arms leading to both of their faces, this allows the
audience’s eye to be drawn towards the points of
interest even quicker.
The framing of this image follows the rule of thirds due
to Lennon’s head being in the golden point whilst his
bottom is in another.
Photographic Category
Celebrity/ Icons
Purpose
The purpose for this magazine was to be
featured in Annie Leibovitz’s gallery.
Meaning Created
The meaning of this image is to create a
sense of yin/ yang between the two
models.