"Like any great model, she doesn't mind being used."

"Like any great model, she doesn't mind being used."

-Annie Leibovitz

Ok, wait, who is Annie Leibovitz?

Annie Leibovitz - 1970

Born in the USA in 1949 Annie Leibovitz is a prolific and very talented photographer. Her first magazine cover was for Rolling Stones in 1970, the same year she photographed John Lenon for the first time.

Covering the 1972 election she then became chief photographer for rolling stones in 1973 which led to being the tour photographer for them in 1975. In 1980 she took this photo of John and Yoko the same day he was murdered.

John Lennon and Yoko Ono, New York City, December 8th 1980 - Annie Leibovitz

In 1983, she moves from Rolling Stones to vanity Fair. In 1984 I was born...and Annie receives 'photographer of the year' from the American Society of magazine photographers. 1985 she was the official photographer for the World Cup Games in Mexico City. 1986 she had her second solo show at the Sidney Janis Gallery. Skipping a decade, in 1996 she was the official photographer for the summer Olympic games in Atlanta. Skipping another decade, in 2007 she was commissioned for a series of images of the Queen. 2008 Annie was named San Francisco Art Institute McBean Distinguished Lecturer. 2009 received the International Center of Photographies Lifetime Achievement award. 2018 she received the Lifetime Achievement award for excellence in the Arts from the National Museum of Women in the Arts.

...This was a SERIOUSLY abridged biography... just listing it was 5 pages long in the book!

Sooooo where is the quote from exactly?

Annie Leibovitz at work

The book 'Annie Leibovitz at work', a signed copy no less. It chronicles the working life of Annie, from her humble start touring the US in the back of dads car going from military base to military base to shooting a portraits series of the queen. 

Cate Blanchett shot by Annie Leibovitz

In the section of the book where this quote pops up she is talking about her time photographing celebrities. Being fairly late on in the book it kinda comes out of nowhere but it does address the way photographers interact with models (especially celebrities). Specifically, she discussed how stage and screen actress Cate Blanchett's self-confidence "transcended any qualms about the photographic enterprise..." while others feel that "it doesn't seem to them to have anything to do with their work."

Why did this statement about using people shock me?

I don't consider myself a user.

Maybe this is wrong. Maybe I am? This statement forced me to consider that my work might just be that...using people. Does payment justify that? It also highlights my responsibilities as a photographer to the models and other people I work with. I understand that Annie was not using people in the meaning that is conjured up when you say that about someone but it still is a provocative word to be using.

Do you think this is true?

Yes, maybe, No. Ultimately a model uses their body to sell something. It could be clothes or it could be an idea but it is still a type of use. A photographer uses the model to get the image that they want in order to achieve a goal. This statement (the ‘use’ phrase especially) tends to bring up ideas that models are somehow victims which is not the case, not in a professional environment anyway. The models I have met are some of the most empowered and inspirational people I know.

The worst thing about this quote?

It seems to be the main thing that sticks in my head when I think about this book and that is a real shame. It's a great book with some truly beautiful images and important stories about her work.

Let me know what you think about this. Given how short the entry this is I am sure I have been a bit naive and ham-fisted about this.

Practise, Practise, Practise

The idea that 'practise makes perfect' has been drilled into me from a young age. While I don't believe you should wait for perfection (nothing is perfect and so you will wait forever) I do firmly believe perfection should be something we strive for. We will always miss but the closer we get the better our creations will be and the more consistently we will be able to create.
Practise has the real risk of becoming being dull, however. When we repeat a task over and over again it can take something you love and push it firmly into the mundane and risks killing creativity. I have first-hand knowledge of this with product photography. A field where repetition and consistency are key for image creation but remove nearly all forms of creativity from the act of creating.
So the balance must be made between repetition and gripping boredom. If only my school teacher had figured that out. Without this balance, you will burnout.

Variations along a theme, this was shot on film and then processed by me!

This is nice and all, but why are you talking about this?
At the time of writing this, I have been shooting with a model ( Instagram:- @kirstyspence ) for a while and we have been doing the same style of shoot. While not a bad experience it is important for us to stay creative and we are getting better at this style of shoot. Continuing to shoot like this wouldn't be a bad thing but it is going to be difficult to keep creating interesting images by repeating ourselves.

Same old same old

So its time for something new?
Yes and no. We will probably come back to a shoot like this when we have another idea that warrants it but for now, we are looking to shoot in a different setting and create differently styled images. This was it keeps things fresh and what we create will be of more use to us in the future. It also allows us to explore new ideas and maybe hone what we really want to continue doing. Ultimately, exploration is so important in any form of practice.

Switching it up a bit.