Sure there are others, but Annie Leibowitz is the undisputed, reigning leader in the world of celebrity portraits.
From her years shooting the creme de la creme in rock & roll, to her mastery capturing the essence of the most powerful people in the world, she is the best we have right now.

And we say “we” because she has spread her images to just about very venue, every publication, the top museums and galleries in the world. By doing so she has shared her vision with the collective “we”.

With 2 full length documentaries made at different focal points in her life, Ms. Leibowitz seems to be entering yet another segment of her career.
With the publication of the book” Annie Leibowitz At Work”, she has now pulled the curtain back and revealed her modus operandi. Plus gets into FAQ’s.

When an artist lets you into the back room at the magic show, so to speak, it usually signifies that they are moving on from that period.
Let’s see where she goes.

Continue Reading »

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Photo Studio Set recreation, using George Hurrell’s original Camera

The glamour of the screen actors from the beginning of the cinema in Hollywood, will be remembered not only by their immense bodies of work, but the photographs of George Hurrell.
Shooting on an 8×10 view camera, he captured all of the romance of the time in shaped shadows enveloping the stars in the smooth, soft glow of beauty.

His background in painting served his lighting techniques as the chiaroscuro patterns permeated his work.

But it was his skill working with the celebrities who left their photographic fate in his hands and were never disappointed. The movie studios called on his talent for all of their top actors, and felt his work could change their career. And it did.

From Jean Harlow in 1932

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© George Hurrell
To Sherilynn Fenn in 1992

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© George Hurrell
Continue Reading »

Whether it is for promotion, idolization, or an off the cuff capture of the private life of celebrities, photography and Hollywood go together like…well, peanut butter and jelly.
In the studio, on the set, or on the street, photographers are here to help the public get a glimpse into lives of those we may think we know due to their on-screen personas. Or off-screen personal lives.

From the master of the studio, George Hurrell, to the paparazzi, this week we’ll take a look at all of the ways we get our fill of celebrity by way of photography. And of course it all culminates at the Oscars on Feb. 22, 2009.

Today, we’ll start with a look in side a paparazzi’s camera bag.
From our archives, here is a video of Henry Flores, from Buzzfoto, sharing the secrets of the gear he uses to catch the shots that get the money:

and some background on the man and how he began: Continue Reading »

The Annenberg Space For Photography will open in Los Angeles on March 27th, 2009!!
ok….what the heck is it?
Just the biggest photographic arts news for Los Angeles EVER!

Basically , a new photographic exhibition, seminar, workshop, lecture space funded by the Annenberg Foundation with a mission statement that says simply: ” to celebrate photography as an art form and present images focused on the human condition.”

Works for us.

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Annenberg Space for Photography Exterior: “L8S ANG3LES” Exhibit. © 2009 Image Courtesy of The Annenberg Foundation

The premiere show, entitled “L8S ANG3LES,” will be comprised of images from eight Los Angeles-based photographers in the genres of fine art, architecture, documentary, fashion, photojournalism and celebrity portraits.

The artists contributing to the group show are among the most respected in their fields– John Baldessari, Catherine Opie, Greg Gorman, Douglas Kirkland, Tim Street-Porter, Julius Shulman, Lauren Greenfield, and Carolyn Cole.

The exhibit will also include work from three Los Angeles Times staff photographers depicting life in this city; Lawrence Ho, Genaro Molina, and Kirk McKoy.

Following a gala premiere on March 25, the exhibit will open to the public on Friday, March 27 and close on June 20, 2009.

Located on the former site of the Shubert Theater, the Photography Space is a 10,000 square-foot facility. The dynamic exhibition space will feature, along with a traditional print gallery, a state-of-the-art digital presentation system capable of sharing an unprecedented number of photographs with the public in large and high-resolution
format. This system can also simultaneously show adjacent video of the photographers discussing their work.

The selected work of the artists, though greatly contrasting in style and tone, all speak to the mission of the Photography Space, which is to celebrate photography as an art form and present images focused on the human condition.
Anne Wilkes Tucker, Gus and Lyndall Wortham Curator of Photography from the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, served as Special Advisor for the opening installation. Of the artists featured in “L8S ANG3LES” Ms. Tucker comments, “The vision of these photographers reflects the vast talent and energy that have made Los Angeles into a world class city in less than a century.”

Annenberg Foundation Vice President, Wallis Annenberg, commented, “I have a passion for photography and a great pride in the fine city of Los Angeles. I am thrilled that artists of this magnitude are taking part in our inaugural show and know that through their brilliance they will bring great inspiration to the visitors of this new space which we are
creating and operating as a gift to the community.”

General Information
The Annenberg Space for Photography
2000 Avenue of the Stars,
Century City, CA. 90067
General admission is free.
Operating hours Wednesday through Sundays are 11am to 6pm. The Photography Space is closed Monday and Tuesday. Underground self-parking is available and can be accessed via Constellation Boulevard.
Validation for reduced parking fees will be provided.
Here’s a map for you.

The Annenberg Space for Photography future exhibit schedule includes July 2009 to October 2009:
“PICTURES OF THE YEAR,” the winning photographs from the country’s premiere photojournalism contest;
and Early November 2009 to March 2010: WALTER IOOSS and NEIL LEIFER, work by two eminent sports photographers.

Background

The Annenberg Space for Photography was conceived by the Los Angeles-based Trustees of the Foundation- Wallis Annenberg, Lauren Bon, Charles Annenberg Weingarten and Gregory Annenberg Weingarten. The original inspiration behind the Photography Space was sparked by Wallis Annenberg’s personal devotion to photography. Wallis and the Foundation Trustees sought to create a new paradigm for experiencing photography that would compliment the landscape of the Los Angeles and national photography community, and build on the longstanding tradition of the Foundation.

The Photography Space will also offer the public programs, which will include lectures and workshops related to “L8S ANG3LES.”
Additional dates will be announced as available.
Online registration for all events, unless otherwise noted, will begin March 27, 2009 at www.annenbergspaceforphotography.org.
“Iris Nights” Lecture Series
Conducted on Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 8pm, these sessions will be free but will require advance reservations.

Confirmed thus far are:

•Douglas Kirkland “A FIFTY YEAR LOVE AFFAIR WITH PHOTOGRAPHY” April 2, 2009
Presented by Canon’s Explorers of Light program
•Greg Gorman CELEBRITY PORTRAITURE April 16, 2009
• Carolyn Cole April 30, 2009
• Catherine Opie May 7, 2009
• Julius Shulman and Wim de Wit (Head of the Department of Architecture May 14, 2009
and Design The Getty Research Institute)
• Lauren Greenfield May 21, 2009
• Patrick Ecclesine “FACES OF SUNSET BOULEVARD” June 4, 2009
Workshops
• Greg Gorman DIGITAL WORKSHOP Saturday, April 18, 2009
This session includes a fee. More information and registration is at www.gormanphotography.com and www.gormanworkshops.com

We’ll keep you up to date on the space as it begins it’s premiere, and integration into the city.

So you now have another reason to visit Los Angeles.
Did you need one?

Ahhhhh, chocolates, love, roses, the slow walk, the fast ride, and all of the things to give your mate that special knowledge that someone cares.
Take pictures, capture the day, moment, or the light falling on your loved one.
The light that makes your heart beat faster when it finds your special subject.

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And not to forget, please take another read about Do1thing.org

Your skills can start helping today. Spread that love.