Photo of Annie by Robert Scoble
If you’ve ever wondered why Annie Leibovitz is one of the greatest photographers ever then you need to see this documentary.
Life Through a Lens is a fascinating look into Leibovitz’s career. Photographers of all genres and skill levels will be interested to see her progression as an artist and how her photos have literally made history. From her time spent documenting the world of music at Rolling Stone Magazine, to her portraiture at Vanity Fair and Vogue, Leibovitz has led an incredible photographic life.
The documentary offers plenty of behind-the-scenes looks, discussion of many of her most famous photos, as well as interviews with well known subjects. It was fascinating to see the level of production currently involved with her work at Vanity Fair, which often resembles large movie productions!
Why You Should Watch This Documentary
- It’s a fascinating overview of one of the greatest, and most well-known photographers ever
- Learn the thought processes behind some of her work
- Gain perspective from some of her most famous subjects
- The movie is directed by her sister, Barbara Leibovitz, which helps provide more intimate look into Leibovitz’s life.
- The DVD extras, providing additional interviews, were fantastic
- Makes an awesome companion to her book, At Work
One thing that stands out in this documentary is the relationships that Leibovitz develops with the subjects she photographs. She would go on tour with bands when working for Rolling Stone in order to allow them to get comfortable with her presence. And her work with other artists feels a lot more collaborative than directed. It echoes one of her greatest quotes:
A thing that you see in my pictures is that I was not afraid to fall in love with these people. – Annie Leibovitz
The documentary was created in 2008. Check to see if your local library has a copy!
For more documentaries for photographers check out our Documentary List.
