Annie Leibovitz: A Photographer’s Life, 1990-2005

I can hear your soul crying
listen to your spirit sighing
I can feel your desperation
emotional deprivation
I can taste the tears falling
the bitterness inside you calling
yearning for a liberation
emotional emancipation
— Freestate

Shame on me for attending on the last day of the exhibit. But it was packed. I was somewhat expecting that based on previous trips to the LoH. Her photographs really are beautiful. But 50% of the images were only 4″ x 6″. Really frustrating to look at when you’re fighting 10 other people looking at the same photo.
The photographs of celebrities were big enough to view, despite the crowds of people who had apparently never seen Demi Moore on the cover of Vanity Fair.
Her black and white landscape photographs were blown up to gargantuan proportions. To the point they were pixelated and blurry. Um, not artistic.
Overall, the exhibit disappointed my expectations.

The most moving pictures, in my opinion, are her personal portraits. Her life has been enveloped in what many would see as her typical subject’s lifestyle, a celebrity life, with dramatic ups and downs.
A very interesting tidbit is that on all of the narratives next to the photographs on display, her lifetime partner, Susan, who died of cancer, is referred to as her «friend Susan.» Come on folks, this is San Francisco, we can handle it! If you get a chance to see the PBS documentary before or after, it’s very complimentary to the photos that are on display at this exhibit at the Legion of Honor.
My other favorites were the photos of the Queen of England, the infamous pregnant Demi Moore for the cover of Vanity Fair, the blood-​splattered walls in Rwanda, the photo of a bicycle on the ground in Sarajevo with a blood remains of an innocent boy who was a victim of war gunfire, and, the last few photos of Susan’s life. These are all so moving without needing any words, thus, the art of photography in Leibovitz’s ever-​capable and magical hands.

This was a great momento to Annie Leibovitz work and I throughly enjoyed it. The set up was great and there were a lot of different types of images of her work that exude her skills and talents that bring life out of a photograph. I do however have some complaints about the size and photo choices that the museum chose to display. I would have appreciated more of her most famous magazine cover images as well as just a larger display in general. Overall I truly enjoyed it.

Pretty rough for a major exhibition. Vanity Fair elebrity glam shots and snapshots of her personal life.
Susan Sontag dying is a bummer, but not great content for a major museum show.
It really does not hold up to Lee Friedlander at SFMOMA, who also did a mix of commercial and artistic work but its just a much better artist than Leibovitz.

Many, many thanks to the beautiful Drue for telling me about the Leibovitz exhibit, and then taking me there. You’re awesome!
Annie Leibovitz’s studio and personal works are on display at the Legion of Honor. This is not a comprehensive display, but shares highlights from her work between 1990 and 2005… clearly a monumental time in her life.
The studio works are some of her well-​know pictures from magazines such as Vanity Fair and Rolling Stone, and are reproduced using gelatin-​silver. The prints show off the depth and three-​dimensionality of her work, especially in black & white. Most of these «famous person» photographs were blown up to several feet in height, so you can really absorb her work in all its detail. Personal favorites included William Burroughs and a Cash family portrait.
However, what was really interesting was the large number of personal photographs– most of Susan Sontag and the Leibovitz family. These photographs were frequently clustered into groups of four four-​by-​six prints. I can certainly understand why someone wouldn’t want their private moments blown up full size, even if they are on display, but I wish they had been (or some small number, perhaps). I would have liked to see those photos given the same treatment as the «famous person» works, to be able to compare the end results of a casual shoot verses a studio shoot. And yet, since many of these photos document the loss of Susan Sontag and her father, I can fully appreciate the desire not to.
The Legion of Honor is hosting this exhibit for only another three weeks (it ends May 25, 2008), so take the time out of your busy schedule to wander through for an hour or so.

Annie Leibovitz is an American icon who has photographed most, if not all of the American icons alive during her career. She has captured some of the most memorable photographs in popular American culture since the 1970s.
This retrospective captures her most recent work. Some of the pieces really captivated me. First was her portrait of a naked Demi Moore holding her very pregnant belly. Anyone alive and alert at the time remembers when it graced the cover of Vanity Fair and the discussions it sparked. And those that it still does. Truly incredible.
I was also struck by her portraits of Queen Elizabeth II. I am dumbfounded yet captivated by the perseverance of the British Crown in the modern day. And, I think, so is Ms. Leibovitz. In her photographs of the queen I saw both respect and bewilderment.
I was captivated by the large scale prints of some of her landscapes. I had never seen any of them before and it allowed me to see more of the artist than I had seen before.

This is a beautiful, intimate and gorgeously detailed look into Annie Liebovitz’s life and lifework. Moving through the exhibit my emotions turned from detached interest and slight indifference-(Her work is overrated, borders on trite and is famous for its’ controversy),
to intrigue-(hmm. interesting family portraits and insights into other sides of her work), to respect and admiration for her courage and talent. Her relationship with her family, with her lover Susan Sontag, and her children were incredibly moving and meaningful. I went last Sunday and have been thinking about this exhibit all week.
She and Susan were pioneering artists and intellectuals of their time. Great exhibit!

My stepfather was just diagnosed with cancer and the photographs of Leibovitz’s partner, Susan Sontag, undergoing her transition during cancer and then on to death were deeply personal, indescribably moving, and simply striking.
I have her Olympic Portraits book, but never really fully realized the depth and breadth of her work. This is truly an exhibit to treasure.

Just saw this show at the Legion of Honor and I was pretty impressed. I must admit that I am not a huge fan of Annie’s and generally find her Vanity Fair work to be contrived and mundane. She typically photographs celebrities wearing designer clothing in amazing locations. It is kind of hard to screw that up…
Anyway! The show was so amazing that it made me change my opinion of her. It contained numerous family photos of her parents, siblings, children and partner Susan Sontag. The family images documented some major points in her life. She portrayed the death of Susan and her father in a tastefully poignant way. Many of them made me think of my family and how much I love them and it brought me to tears.
Great photography is compelling enough to cause extreme emotion, whether it is anger, sadness or joy. And many of these images had a strong affect on me. I think these photos give you a wonderful insight into her life and make her more human and real. They made her much more likable to me. Check it out!

I have driven by the Legion of Honor many times, but have never stopped to check it out. When I read that they were having an Annie Leibovitz photo show, I made a point of going.
For the most part, I really enjoy her photography and the Legion of Honor did a good job of presenting it. The thing that struck me was the quality of some of the prints. The colors and detail were out of this world. Seeing images done right is a treat as opposed to the magazines they were printed in. I really enjoyed her celebrity photos, most of which I had only seen in books, magazines or on line.
I have to say, I was less than impressed with some of her scenic and personal photos. Some of the scenic shots were blown up so large all you saw were huge pixels.
Overall, it was an afternoon well spent and was glad I went.

this is a great exhibit displaying 197 photographs by annie liebovitz. there’s a lovely mix of personal (family) and professional (celebrities) portraiture. while i had seen the photographs in the book before, seeing them live and large is much more impressive. be sure to check out the 6 minute video towards the front of the exhibit to learn a bit about her life and work. annie liebovitz certainly has a brilliant eye and her pictures tell wonderful stories. a great first trip to the legion of honor for me. it was neat to see/​hear the organist after ascending the steps from the liebovitz exhibit to the main level. i would recommend going during the week if possible (saturday afternoon was super crowded, the visit’s only downfall… i don’t like bobbing and weaving through an exhibit).

Just because one of my favorite photographers happens to be an American icon in the largest, most global sense, doesn’t mean she’s any less of an incredible artist who’s every shot has a rich story to tell.
The Legion of Honor’s retrospective focusing on Annie Leibovitz’s career from 1990 to 2005 was nothing less than brilliant, surprising, humorous, breathtaking, occasionally shocking, uncensored, and emotionally moving. It included some of her most famous portraits, Vanity Fair covers, as well as some not so famous landscapes, family portraits and candid shots spanning the photographer’s life, triumphs and tragedies.
Leibovitz’s open nature and sharp eye have brought forth some of the most honest, occasionally haunting, gorgeous images known to our recent generations… and the Legion of Honor did a lovely job displaying them in all of their glory. I left inspired, awestruck, and emotionally shaken. in the best of ways.
As usual, well done Legion of Honor!
((Big thanks to the fine fellow at the door who let us in for free, as we got there under the gun! (40 minutes ’til closing!!) Yay!!))

I thought that this exhibit was going to be an easy write up as the pictures were all so familiar to me like one was looking into their family album. As I started to write I kept crossing one sentence after the next in hopes of addressing the emotions and experience I had. The emotional impact and the kaleidoscope of human interaction, relationships and casualties were so strong that to convey them all here would be impossible– so embark with me on my reflections through the eyes of Annie Liebovitz.
Some photographers are: communicators, some illustrators, and some represent ideas, thoughts and experiences on a developed glossy print. Annie Liebovitz captures the «peak moments» of her life– chronicled throughout the decades, as she journeys through life’s vicissitudes– portraying them with such clarity and pureness. I felt as if I was looking into my friend’s family album with what interested her and entertained her – showing me without any reservation in discovering the joys and triumphs, the sadness and despair, the birth and death she has gone through – and discover in all them the redeeming quality and genuineness of Truth.
I noticed that most of the photographs were in black and white, as if the colors themselves would only lend to represent someone else’s idea or semblance to another artist (a museum pet peeve when I hear «That to me looks like a Picasso» or «The palette on that painting are just like Matisse’s»…so forth) but I like: — «Annie Liebovitz’s Karen Finley at her Home Photo was a stylistic equivalent to Ingres’ Grande Odalisque.» It is this type of homage she mentioned of Ansel Adams in the panoramic giant photos of Death Valley– heat dissipating from the blurred edges of the eroding unfinished sculptures.
I think that one of the strongest points in the exhibit was the spiritual and redemptive qualities in the cycle of life portrayed through birth and in the photos of her Dad and Mom’s pictures– their spiritual rebirth with their solemn farewell. While most of us would only consider to show this to family members and close friends, part of the redemptive quality to share this with others can only show that precious time slip by– and to lose them would only weaken the soul. A welcoming embrace is as endearing and should be valued as a farewell one. On the same token, I felt the lover’s lament through her eyes, as she took detailed serial, panoramic landscape pictures of Susan’s body, the last sacred testament of life – a preservation to remember her forever.
I end with the two photos that touched me profoundly– a theme on hate and love. The Massacre of Tutsi School Children requires no explanation, conveyed in color to magnified the strength of its message – the yellowish hue of the walls and brushstrokes of blood amplified the screaming children– a howl so penetrating when hearts breaks. My favorite photo, Susan in Petra (I posted the picture)– Susan beholding the glorious place, just as she passes through the dark, narrow walls that led to the hidden city (while she was behind to capture the discovery). In her tribute she offers her thoughts on the ‘joys’ of life: «love of discovery through art, history and travel and being with her through all of it was what gave me the most happiness.»
PS. Everyone has parents, friends, lost a loved one, know of someone fighting cancer, celebrated births, endured tragedies– but through all this– her experience, her pictures tell me– you go on– because there will always be love and passion if you choose to live it.

What a fantastic way to spend an afternoon.
My friend and I ventured here opening day and had such a wonderful time.
Throughout the whole exhibit I kept thinking to myself, «I remember that.»
Her personal pieces are so moving.
This is one not to miss!

Love this exhibition (and love the Legion). Walking through room after room of photography by Annie Leibovitz is like visiting an old friend. She has done such a wonderful job of capturing the images over the years and this show brings you not only the familiar commercial shots but lots of personal ones, too. (Besides, Jon Bön Jovi on a tanning bed in his tightie whities is worth the price of admission!)

Walking through the Annie Liebovitz exhibit, you will be surrounded by familiar faces. Nicole, Cindy, Brad, Demi — you have seen them numerous times, perhaps even in these photographs. So there is a sense of the familiar all around, and you get a chance to be close-​up, to stare.
What I loved most about the exhibit were the personal photographs — the ones of her parents, sisters, lover/​friend Susan Sontag, and her children. They are deeply personal and loving, and at the same time, unapologetic about showing every facet of life, including death.
Stepping back, you can then recognize that the famous people are just that, people — iconic, perhaps, but above all, people. How Leibovitz gets to see this inner person with each subject that she works with is her talent, and she shares it well.
It’s an impressive body of work, and the images will stay with you long after you view them. It’s one life, the life of the artist, converged with the many lives of her subjects, from sports figures to celebrities to familiar faces from our government. Most of the photographs are accompanied by a short comment from Leibovitz explaining the context or its meaning to her. This helps to personalize it even further.
I saw the exhibit last night at the Members Preview evening, which was a nice event, though very full. I will be back on a less crowded day, to contemplate the photographs in my own time.

Truly an arresting exhibit by arguably the greatest living American photographer (of portraiture for certain).
The images that comprise this exhibit are at once intimate and public, and unexpectedly so. Images that have become part of the American cultural subconscious are displayed alongside personal family photos so deeply emotive that the effect is one of shared confidence and kinship.
Though the predominant theme is portraiture, Annie Leibowitz is first and foremost a formalist, relying on superb composition to elevate her subjects to near mythic status, regardless of their notoriety.
Up close and personal, her famous works remind us that the more we know something (or someone), the more we realize there is to be known.

A [film] camera is such an innovative way for a young person to express creativity… at fifteen, I took my first photography class– with my mom’s old Minolta in hand, with thoughts, dreams, and images of Man Ray, Robert Doisneau, and the like wandering through my mind, that was the start of my adventure.
Hearing the artist speak tonight and seeing the work, I’m inspired to get out my old *film* camera again.
This exhibit, a ‘coming home’ of sorts for the artist’s work, spans a decade and a half– the ol’ standards (the demi VF pic, the cindy crawford pic, leonardo, etc) are all there. The exhibit is also peppered with very personal images from the artist’s life– of her family.
The images are a *little* crowded on the ground level of the Legion of Honor… I loved the way the images of Michael Moore, John Ashcroft, Condi, W, and Dick Cheney all stand in one tiny little nook, right next to each other… aww… BFF forever… or so it seems…
The ‘hall of paper images’ was, for me, miss-​able. The pictures and images were very crowded, full of images strewn togethernext to year labels (there’s a tiny Obama and Family pic almost on the floor, from a few years back.)
Overall: if you’re a fan of the artist, well worth the visit. If you’re a fan of pop culture, well worth the visit. If you have ever picked up a camera as a kid, teen, or as an adult and marveled at the power of the images that may become… it’s well worth the visit.
You have till Memorial Day!
March 1, 2008 — May 25, 2008