Module: Activating Research - Research Archive (Annie Leibovitz)

Annie Leibovitz began her Photographic career in 1970 when she started working for ‘Rolling Stone’ magazine a start-up Rock music magazine.

After working as their chief photographer for 10 years and developing her trademark use of striking composition and use of colour, she then began working for Vanity Fair magazine in 1983.

This opportunity enabled her to work with a wider array of subjects and become more controversial in her choice of set production and portraiture technique. She became known for her ability to make the sitter physically involved in her creations.

 One of Annie’s most recent commissions has been for ‘Disney’.  These promotional images were of a Fantasy nature and models included celebrities such as David Beckham, Beyonce, Julianne Moore and Scarlet Johansen to name a few.

This particular project of ‘Disney’ images interests me greatly. I thoroughly enjoy viewing the fantasy imagery and use of costume, make-up, stage sets and Photoshop manipulation.  It allows the viewer to see a recognisable personality in a ‘dreamlike’,  ‘fairytale’ setting. We are in a world now where people relate to celebrities and imitate them and these images encourage us to fantasise. From my own experience of visiting a ‘Disney’ park this is definitely the ethos of the ‘Disney’ empire.

Considering the style of portrait photography I am researching and the notion of alter-egos Annie’s work continues to inspire my desire to create fantastical ‘dreamlike’ images which will allow my sitters to step into a new world, albeit for a short period.