Annie Leibovitz, born in 1949, is an American portrait photographer. Her documentary, Life Through a Lens, starts off with an interview of her conducted in the car. This is because her family spent a lot of time traveling by car during her childhood. It was during these care rides that she observed the world through a window.
Leibovitz went to school at the San Francisco Art Institute, where she planned on becoming an art teacher. However, she quickly realized that in order to teach art, she must first become good at art. Instead of teaching, she became a photographer for Rolling Stone. Leibovitz toured with the Rolling Stones, where she immersed herself in the punk rock culture in order to get the most genuine photographs. She also begged her editor/writer to have permission to photograph famous couple, John Lennon and Yoko Ono. One of the photographs she took of the couple ended up on the cover of Rolling Stone. The photograph was so moving that the cover contained no text other than the title.
Leibovitz also shot the resignation of President Nixon in 1974. People watched Nixon walk the red carpet and depart in a helicopter. However, after everyone had left, Leibovitz stayed behind and took a picture (above) of officials rolling away the red carpet as the helicopter took off.
Leibovitz eventually left Rolling Stone for Vanity Fair. At Vanity Fair she took many fashion and group portraits, most of which were planed out and contained elaborate props. Leibovitz also had a close relationship with Susan Sontag, famous writer, film maker and political activist, from 1989 until Sontag's death in 2004.
Leibovitz now has three children that she cares for greatly. Her family portraits are different than her other portraits, as they are very personal and intimate. Leibovitz continues to shoot new photographs, and she plans to keep doing so until she dies.
