6/366: Leibovitz!

I FINALLY got to the Corcoran to see the Leibovitz exhibit (which closes the 13th! If you can get there, it's totally worth it; I waited in line foreeeever, and I'm so glad I got there early, because when I left, the line to get in was wrapped around the back of the building), and WOOOOWW I was inspired. If I can sneak away on break from work this week, I think I might go back during the day, because it was sooo crowded and I guess I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to museums, because I prefer it to be sort of empty. I think I may be asking for too much in this situation though, since Annie Leibovitz is such a major name in photography.

Annie Leibovitz is one of my faaaaavooorite photographers! Her pictures moved me so much I left in tears at the end. The order of the exhibition makes you do so, I think. It begins with a photo of a dominatrix-like figure clad in patent leather, followed by photograph of Cindy Crawford nude with a serpent wrapped around her in a dark gloomy forest, features some of her best editorial work and ends with photos of her father's final days as well as her 'everything' Susan Sontag's final days, up to her death. She really inspires me as an intimate photographer more than editorial, or portrait photographer because her work shows this great connection with her subjects. I think there are moments where I'm still people-shy and my biggest goal (photographically speaking) this year is to overcome that.

Ansel Adams' work was also inspiring, I wish that I could have the patience to take landscape portraits, but the bug hasn't hit me just yet. The texture in his black and white photography was definitely something that kept me lingering at each frame for too long, particularly one that had a burnt tree stump behind some new grass growth.

I'm really excited because in a week I'm beginning a large format photography class, and I realllly miss darkroom, and this class is a semester long, so look out for some images!

Posted by Marlene at 7:52 PM 1 Comments