How to: "Annie leibovitz' Queen Elizabeth" look

[garibaldi]

Originally Posted by krisdaloo

whoa dude, if your implying that the shot(s) is what it is, because of post production, that's just uncool. i'm not saying retouching doesn't play its part, but she is far from someone who presses a button and leaves the rest up to someone else to fix.

I think youre missing the point, the question originallly posted was about how to achieve the look in that photo, not the photo itself as far as composition. So yes, in this case it deals with the retouching and colors, and that is a part that Im sure is handed off to another person (what does everyone say she uses, Box studios?) Up to that point, her Canon 1DS spits out the same RAW file mine does. So in essence, I could have plopped the queen down next to the window, set my strobes up with an octabank and kickers, handheld it and fired away for 20 minutes. Only.... I would have had the queen look a little less bored, and I probably would have told her to leave the crown on, but to try it topless for a few shots just to see what we came up with....ahahhahahaha

[PatrickB]

Garibaldi,

I see by your writing, you do not want to see the point in my posting.

I do not care about the name of the artist or whether it's a photographer or retoucher, so there is no use in critism at all. But what I did say is, there is no use in asking about what kind of tool to use, nor how to use it, if you don't know the color you want to paint with!

There just is no magic, no secret gizmo and no filter to get the effects those people are famous for.

But I guess it's useless to explain, unless people realize the special style and touch of a persons artwork cannot be copied by applying filters.

[garibaldi]

Are you freaking kidding me!!!! I can buy an exact copy of the last supper painting, done on velvet, with a gold frame for less than $20 in any flea market across the country.. You would be hard pressed to tell the difference from the orginal. Last year for Christmas I got an EXACT replica of the "David" statue....guess what, it was a handsoap! Now its worn down do a small sliver sitting in my soapdish. So you wanna start talking about copying work we can do that.

[PatrickB]

Ok, the straight way then:

To create a photo like the ones you posted, skills are only 10% of the show. The rest is a gifted artist. You are no gifted artist, so your photos will never reach the class and level of Annie Leibovitz' pictures.

Was that freaking clear enough?

[transoptic]

Originally Posted by PatrickB

Ok, the straight way then:

To create a photo like the ones you posted, skills are only 10% of the show. The rest is a gifted artist. You are no gifted artist, so your photos will never reach the class and level of Annie Leibovitz' pictures.

Was that freaking clear enough?

wow, i hope there's a secret magic trick for removing the stick out of your ass.

[CaptainHook]

Take it to PM's or anywhere else.

[Benny Profane]

Originally Posted by krisdaloo

whoa dude, if your implying that the shot(s) is what it is, because of post production, that's just uncool. i'm not saying retouching doesn't play its part, but she is far from someone who presses a button and leaves the rest up to someone else to fix.

Well, she's directing the process. But Annie don't retouch. And her pics are retouched a lot.


I remember her being proud way back when she was a Rolling Stone photog about not using a light meter. So she has a long history of techs saving her butt.

[krisdaloo]

Originally Posted by Benny Profane

Well, she's directing the process. But Annie don't retouch. And her pics are retouched a lot.


I remember her being proud way back when she was a Rolling Stone photog about not using a light meter. So she has a long history of techs saving her butt.

I'm not trying to take credit away from retouching, in fact I have a lot a pride in my work. I know that post can make the shot... But there is a clear difference in the photographer making the shot, and the photographer's retoucher making it. You don't get a reputation like that from someone else's work.

[Ant]

kris, you may know my friend/past co-worker Trevor B?

[Benny Profane]

Think of her as more like a film director rather than a pure photographer. That would make it easier.

[Ant]

Originally Posted by Benny Profane

Think of her as more like a film director rather than a pure photographer. That would make it easier.

Gotta disagree here. You ever check out her book A photographer's life 1990-2005? That's only just 15 years and she has been shooting for much longer than that. She's most likely made more exposures than half the other 'legends'. True artists need not be techno nerds, especially in this day and age. There is more to photography than perfect exposure, etc. Sure, we all know she has teams of crew and that often she may only just come into the set and press the shutter, but it's more than that. You may work on selects that she shot that are less than perfect technically, but they were chosen for other than that. Plus, what artist isn't striving for perfection, whether it's capturing the moment or finalizing the ultimate vision be it the art directors', photo editors' or hers. "I want to because we can and it's expected of me." je refuse! non. no one else is. I'm rambling and incoherent. oh well.

[Benny Profane]

Hey, I love her stuff. The Sopranos portraits in Vanity fair last year were fantastic. I've enjoyed her stuff since '69 or so, when she covered the Rolling Stones tour for RS. And I guess I'm talking out of the wrong end since I've never seen her work, so, I'm outta heya. Good night.

[janekm]

Originally Posted by garibaldi

that really didnt make any sense. But, if you are seriously comparing AL to Michaelangelo, then your on crack. lets do apples to apples here, im sure michaelangelo didnt roll in with a Dewalt air compressor and a wagner spray gun, and a bunch of $5/hr assistants, shoot the ceiling, with a base coat and then hand the rest of the job off to a retoucher to finish it off. That guy gets props becasue he did it all himself. Word around the campfire is that he made the red color in the paint with his own blood, and the browns were made from his....well you get the point. None the less, those two clowns arent even in the same league, sport, or arena for that matter.

But to get back on track, nobody still has answered the original question anyway.

Do you really believe Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel himself? That man used a bigger team than AL
http://www.newstatesman.com/200211250029

[bitzao]

Originally Posted by Ant

kris, you may know my friend/past co-worker Trevor B?

not sure ant... why would kris know me?

[xfx]

Here are some new shots and behind the scenes of Annie's Leibovitz work...Enjoy.

http://journeys.louisvuitton.com/