How I See Annie

Annie said, "My work is the greatest relationship of my life." This has proven true for her. She works all the time and photographs anything and everything where ever she is. I think Annie is such an incredible strong person. It takes a strong person to be able to work through her sorrow. Annie uses photography as a way to get through obstacles in life. I do the same thing. If I am ever stressed or upset, I will take my camera and just go on a walk. Taking picture is a stress-reliever for me. I agree with Annie when she says that you can never take too many pictures and that she loves to photograph her family. If I am comfortable with specific people I enjoy photographing them. I love taking pictures of my parents, brother and my dogs! Another thing I loved about Annie Leibovitz is that she likes to tell stories through her pictures. I love her themes. She photographed a lot of celebrities, and the theme was Disney. An example of one of the pictures was Jennifer Lopez & Marc Anthony posed as Aladdin and Jasmine. Annie shoots in film and digital too. I like that she uses different mediums to take photographs. It gives pictures of the same things variety. I don't know how Annie was able to deal with the loss of Susan. If my best friend died, I don't think I would be able to get over it. Annie was able to deal with her loss through photography. Photography helps Annie in so many ways, and it helps me in so many ways too. I love it. It can make me happy, relieve my stress, and allow me to deal with sadness too. Annie and I have many similarities that I was not aware of before I watched the documentary about her. I loved the movie and enjoyed learning more about Annie's life. It has inspired me to photograph more and see the world in a different way.

Annie Leibovitz

When asked what a photographer's life is, Annie said, "It's a life looking through a lens." Annie will shoot subjects with a digital camera and with film. One person called her a  daring photographer. Hilary Clinton called her "a major chronicler of our country." Annie came from a huge family and had five siblings. During her childhood, her family moved constantly and the family unit was the only constant thing. She lived in her car, and was able to see the world through a frame, the window frame of the car. Annie's family saw the camera as another part of the family. Her father was stationed in Vietnam and her family moved to the Philippines. Annie started taking picture of the base and around the military base. Annie went to school in San Francisco in 1967. She wanted to be a painting major, and wanted to be an art teacher. She realized she couldn't be an art teacher until she became an artist. She took a photography workshop that summer. Photography clicked with her, and there was something about the process that she enjoyed. The School of Photography at the San Francisco Institute was where Annie learned to take pictures. Annie says she and Rolling Stone's magazine grew up together. By 1973 Annie had become the Rolling Stone's chief photographer. Annie said, "The magazine is an empty canvas and is just waiting to be filled up with imagery." She's shot everything from celebrities, to astronauts, to people sitting on the street. Annie believes that, "In order to get the best possible pictures you had to become what was going on." Arnold Schwarzenegger  said, "Annie is very good at adapting to her surroundings when she takes pictures." Annie photographed The Rolling Stone's while they were on tour. Annie enjoyed taking pictures of dance. She would study the dance and pick moments to re-create in a photograph. Bea Feitler became a mentor for Annie because she needed a teacher. She started to investigate other photographers' concepts and their pictures. One of Annie's most famous pictures is the portrait of John Lennon and Yoko Ono. She took that picture the day Lennon died. People who have worked with Annie says she's tough, and can be difficult sometimes. One person called her "Barbra Streisand with a camera." When Annie moved to Vanity Fair she was faced with new obstacles. She would shoot the covers for Vanity Fair, but those weren't photographs. She says they were more like advertisements to sell the magazine. Annie and Susan Sontag had a personal relationship that was later confirmed in Annie's book. Vanity Fair started to become glitzy and glamor and Annie had to change how she usually took photographs. Annie works for Vogue in addition to Vanity Fair. Annie said, "What I am doing as a photographer is getting a little slice of them [her subject]." Annie brought a "sense of poetry to her lose," by photographing people who died.

#5- San Francisco

Dear San Francisco,
I feel that throughout my whole life I have said "I hate San Francisco. It's always cold, grey, and windy." Well now that I am leaving the Bay Area, I have come to realize how much I will miss this city. I have not given you enough credit. Even though you can be extremely cold, you have many things to offer. I enjoyed attending Outside Lands in Golden Gate Park. During those three days it was pretty sunny and didn't become too cold at night. Having cable cars definitely make you an unique city. I love riding the cable cars around to different parts of San Francisco. My favorite part of San Francisco is either Pier 39 or AT&T Park. I love going to the pier because there are so many different things to do there. There is the mirror maze, watching the sea lions, going shopping and there so many different restaurants to eat at. San Francisco has so much to offer, and I know that I have taken advantage of its opportunities. I should be more thankful that I live near a city where I can go shopping, go to concerts, ride on paddle boats, etc. Thanks for all allowing me to experience so much in your city. I have had a wonderful time growing up and exploring San Francisco.
Love,
Irene