Sharp focus on life behind a lens 
August 8, 2008
By Diane de Beer
Director: Barbara Leibovitz
Classification: 10M

Running time: 99 minutes
Rating: ****

It's probably coincidence - but gloriously so - that this film, which deals with one of the world's most fascinating photographers, is released in time for Women's Day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEjho8I8XBY

Annie Leibovitz's hard work saw her rise to the top, but what also had a huge impact on her career was her partnership with one of the most interesting minds of our time, Susan Sontag, who brought a different dynamic to the photographer's work.

You might never have heard the name Annie Leibovitz, but without knowing it, you've probably seen some of her iconic pictures.

She first worked for Rolling Stone magazine as a young gonzo-type photographer and now she's become THE photographer to the stars.

When Annie calls, they're there.

Think Miley Cyrus and the recent brouhaha about the too- sexy pictures in Vanity Fair, that was Leibovitz. If you've seen the photo of Yoko Ono and John Lennon lying in a fetal position or the one of Whoopi Goldberg in a bath of milk or perhaps the nude pregnancy shots of Demi Moore - all of them Ms Leibovitz 
.

She's always had the eye and knows how to capture images of famous people and events that will make the world stop and take notice.

In the earlier Rolling Stones magazine days, many could argue that her work had more of an edge. These days, with her legendary Vanity Fair covers, it does have a staged feel, but that goes with both the time and the territory. The choice is the viewers'.

In this celebrity-struck world we live in, Annie's story is a mesmerising one as she has any celeb at her beck and call. She wants a picture, she'll get it. What more could any girl want?

That's the thing, though. The woman in question, Annie Leibovitz, seems pretty unfazed by it all. The documentary, which is shot by her younger sister, is done with care, yet seems to deal with all the controversy as well.

When Leibovitz, as a young journo, was invited on a Rolling Stones tour, she was warned about the drugs - didn't take it seriously - got her pictures, but also got hooked. It's dealt with and like in life, they move on as Leibovitz simply keeps snapping away.

The real story is the way she looks at the world and always has. If she has to deal with any emotion, she does it through a lens. From the death of her father, her partner, the lives of her children, her childhood memories and then all those faces recognised around the world, the way she looks at all of that, is to catch them in the moment.

If you liked … Almost Famous … you will love this.

she takes amazing photos.  she is a very talented photographer.

Here are some excerpts from Annie's book -- sorry if this was already posted !

http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2008/10/annie_excerpt200810

I love the part about Arnold Schwarzenegger.
"We were shooting on the beach, and he said he had a horse, and I said, Well, bring it along, not thinking much about it. I couldn’t believe it when the horse showed up. It looked like Arnold."

She used to be Susan Sontag's lesbian lover!