Movies | September 06, 2009 | 18 comments

Annie Leibovitz: The legacy of a photographer’s life and times

source: http://disembedded.wordpress.com/2009/09/07/annie-leibovitz-the-legacy-of-a-photographers-li...

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Annie Leibovitz’s life has now taken a decidedly dark turn. In the past five years, Susan Sontag and both of Leibovitz’s parents have died. Her debts now total a staggering $24 Million, payment of which is due on Tuesday, September 8th. If she can’t meet that deadline, she may lose her homes and the rights to her lifetime body of photographic work. Leibovitz has begun to think of herself less as a celebrity artist leading a charmed life and more as a single mother of three, fighting to keep a roof over her head and food on her family’s table. The fear of no longer working is terrifying to her. She has to work.

This comprehensive piece presents a detailed biography, a remarkable, historic slideshow that ranges from Leibovitz’s earliest photography to her more contemporary work, music audio, an extensive, memorable video photo-gallery and links to additional coverage of her work.
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18 comments // Annie Leibovitz: The legacy of a photographer’s life and times

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  • dengx2
    • 0
      dengx2  

    • One detail everyone seems to of missed:

      "According to reports, the financial problems that famed photographer Annie Leibovitz is facing apparently stem from the pricey taxes she has to pay on the estate of her late wife partner, Susan Sontag.

      The thing that sucks is if Annie and Susan were a married couple, which gays and lesbians can't do, Annie wouldn't have to pay the taxes!!!

      UNFAIR!

      Same-sex couples do not have the same privileges as straight married couples when it comes to inheritance. If your partner passes away and leaves her estate to you, you have to pay up to 50 percent of the value of your inheritance in taxes. However, if you and your partner were recognized as a married couple, you wouldn't have to pay a dime.

      This gay tax needs to be repealed."

    • 2 years ago
  • disembedded
  • cztheday
    • 0
      cztheday  
    • dengx2:

      While I don't disagree with your position on gays/lesbians and their treatment with respect to taxation...something does not quite ring true with respect to such taxes. Such taxes are taken out of the estate. Ms. L. could not possibliy have had any legal obligation to pay the taxes on Ms. S's estate...the estate pays those taxes...and if there is insufficient money in the estate to pay the taxes, the remainder are automatically discharged -- the government cannot pursue Ms L. for nonpayment of taxes on Ms. S's estate..they just can't. Now, if Ms. S. left a house to Ms. L and that house came with a hefty tax obligation but Ms. L decided to accept the house and not to sell it to pay the taxes...then yes, she would have to pay the taxes out of her own pocket...but that is just exceptionally poor judgment.

    • 2 years ago
  • lvp
  • lvp
  • iamgaylord
  • fuscia
    • 0
      fuscia  

    • she should've declared bankruptcy BEFORE risking the rights to her photographs. she even risked the rights to her future work. she doesn't seem to get the picture (b'dum-ching!1).

    • 2 years ago
  • biggranny
  • iamgaylord
  • MornRail
    • 0
      MornRail  

    • I can't say I have much sympathy for her. Although I find her to be talented & has had the opportunity to photograph interesting subjects, from the article she seems irresponsible and have thrown away what is an absolute dream. I've been in the photography game for about 3 years and despite crappy part time jobs, living from place to place, leaving school because I couldn't afford it anymore, & all the other drama that comes with life, I have never let anything get in the way of my art. She let being stupid with her finances get in the way. Yeah, she still had/has jobs however this debt is a big road block.

      From the comments in the ny mag from those that support her, the excuse I hear is artists never pay attention to business stuff & finances; they need to focus on their art. Bullcrap! If you love your art, you will learn every facet it takes to make it work. Hell, she didn't have to bother much with it anyways with conde naste footing the bill & assistants to watch her back. I guess I just find it upsetting because she's an inspiration to many photographers. I find her to be a good example in my life too but where does the spirit in her photos come from if you can't see it in her? All I can see is the mud.

      Nobody's perfect and I still hope to be a great photographer like her one day, even if it's just within my own hometown. But let's hope she gets back to what she's meant to be doing. The decisions in her life are all her own. Good luck to her.

    • 2 years ago
  • disembedded
  • iamgaylord
    • 0
      iamgaylord  
    • MornRail:

      Wow you must be really young? At first I thought reading your comments that you being a photographer understood all kinds of things could happen in life to get in the way of (as you say) your art. She has lead a life few artist could dream of and if they can now dream that dream it's because of Photographers like her.
      Stupid with her finances?? Wow many people make mistakes in there life but not all people make as big a contribution to the art world as Ms. Leibovitz.......respect!

    • 2 years ago
  • MornRail
    • 0
      MornRail  
    • MornRail:

      Wow, you must have not read anything I wrote. I did state that nobody is perfect, however from what I read in the article she was spending like crazy and got way too caught up in all. There is a way to stay level headed through it all when you're fullfilling your dream.

      Gordon Parks is truly one of my favorite photographers. He's truly a Renaissance Man going from photography to writing to activism to even doing films. There is no way his life was perfect or any better than Annie, however he always went forward in everything; nothing was ever a road block. Annie, it seems has many road blocks and she was irresponsible. I can't respect that, nor understand it.

      To answer your question, yes, I am young. 22 in November. But I've gone through a lot just like many others. From a father addicted to drugs, to leaving school, to student loans to pay, fighting for a hotel union, crappy jobs at restaurants, sleeping on park benches and youth hostels. Has this made me wiser than some of my peers? I think yes. I feel it's made me wiser than even older people. But has my life been perfect? No and it never will. But there's always been a camera in hand. There's always been a trip to a Walgreens photo department, frames from Big Lots, and small galleries to show my work. I've never let anything get in the way. Annie is worth millions of dollars, I'm not. Why has it been so hard for her despite that?

      Might I sound bitter? A little but only because I can't stand wihe people throw it all away. So respect that.

    • 2 years ago
  • kreddig
  • disembedded
  • iamgaylord
    • 0
      iamgaylord  

    • I would love to comment on this article but I love her work so much that I would feel wrong about commenting before I had a chance to read the story first. I have met her a few times and being an artist/photographer myself and I felt like I was in present of someone was one of our greatest creative minds, period.

      **It is no small feat to make a photo that will make most people feel something just by looking at it.

    • 2 years ago
  • disembedded
    • 0
      disembedded  
    • iamgaylord:

      Hi iamgaylord,

      I know, to some extent, how you feel. I've never met her directly, but Patti Smith, one of her early musician subjects, has been a long-time supporter of the photography work that I do on my blog. Same with the late Johnny Cash, and presently Roseanne Cash. Thanks very much for your comments.

      Best wishes to you,

    • 2 years ago
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