I was watching a documentary (maybe the only documentary on Annie Leibovitz). I found it boring after about 15 minutes. During that time I didn't learn about what cameras she uses (or used). Does anyone know. They looked expensive. That's about all I could tell.
Corey Ward wrote: It's a documentary about HER...not the fucking gear. Can you quit gear-lusting for 30 seconds and pay attention to something that matters?
Seriously they OP had a ligit question.
However if you type into google: what cameras does Annie Leibovitz use?
Corey Ward wrote: It's a documentary about HER...not the fucking gear. Can you quit gear-lusting for 30 seconds and pay attention to something that matters?
Why you would think I was "gear lusting" because I asked a simple question is beyond me. I don't 'gear lust' at all, in fact. Have you taken your medication today?
Why you would think I was "gear lusting" because I asked a simple question is beyond me. I don't 'gear lust' at all, in fact. Have you taken your medication today?
She uses a Mamiya RZ67 with a 140mm lens for film. Not sure what she is currently using for digital. She is sponsored by profoto and uses their strobes, though most of her Rollingstone stuff was shot with a couple of norman 400 heads. For 35mm she uses Nikon and Leica. All of this is listed in her book, "At work with Annie L".
Though I tend to agree that equipt has nothing to do with vision, with the exception that format shapes may have an effect on how you compose.
if you would like to know how she created her work because you like it then you got to start with her mind. life events make you who you are and what you shoot throughout your life.
so a documentry is the very nature of how and what she shoots and the results are self explanatory. you should be able to pick up the "gear she uses" by being attentive and having some sense
all photographers use the best gear available to their budget wether its a college student budget or a well payed pro and it will advance throughout their career so the answer will be in the early days a entry level camera in her young days and now the top end pro cameras she's supplied with (by her sponsers) on any given job.
people are creatures of habit and photographers will tend stick with what format they feel best with. you can tell the format by the pictures. quality gives ease in presentation but it doesn't make an image.
Alan John Images wrote: I was watching a documentary (maybe the only documentary on Annie Leibovitz). I found it boring after about 15 minutes. During that time I didn't learn about what cameras she uses (or used). Does anyone know. They looked expensive. That's about all I could tell.
Why does it matter?
Buying the same camera as Annie won't make you as good (or as bad depending on your level of hubris) or as famous as her, so why worry?
Honestly, I can probably think of 20 things off the top of my head that would be more useful to know about her than what camera she uses.
Asking, "What camera does Annie use?" is about as sensible as asking, "What kind of brushes did Picasso use?" - it's irrelevant in any meaningful sense.
Why the venom? That's a legitimate question. A persons choices about their tools say volumes about them.
No they don't. I'll use whatever works for me. Doesn't mean I think anybody else should use them, that I reviewed every piece of equipment out there and made sure what I'm using is the best for me, or that it was the most expensive piece of equipment I could afford. It's simply what is working for me right then.
It might say I like a spinning thumb wheel and red rings around my lenses if I shoot Canon, or I'm a fan of marigold if I use Nikon. Volumes? Not hardly.
In a way it does matter what camera Annie Leibovitz uses, if you have a interest in that person, the same as it would matter to know which make of car
Micheal Schumacher drives in formula one racing if you were a fan off his.
Most photographers know its the photographer who makes the image, not the camera.
Oh I see.
Sorry for that. I didn't realize we should check with you 'greats' about what proper questions to ask in a public forum. I suggest everyone email Corey before you post any questions in the photography forum to be sure they are the "right" questions. This will smooth things out.
To answer the OP, I've seen a variety of cameras in A.L.'s hands during documentaries ... Canon, Mamiya, Blads. I'm sure she's got the pick of the litter when it comes to deciding what tool she'll use to accomplish her projects.
Brian T Rickey wrote: This is an industry forum. If you can't answer the OPs question then why be a jerk?
Because it's ruining photography. We produce more meaningless photos that look pretty now than ever before. He's watching a bio on one of the more profound photographers of our time, despite what we might all think of her personally, and he's wondering what model camera she's using. I don't think they just forgot to mention it – if you're thinking about that you're missing the point.
The Alternative Image wrote: In a way it does matter what camera Annie Leibovitz uses, if you have a interest in that person, the same as it would matter to know which make of car
Micheal Schumacher drives in formula one racing if you were a fan off his.
Most photographers know its the photographer who makes the image, not the camera.
just saying.
+1
however the OP has no interest in Annie or it seems...
Because it's ruining photography. We produce more meaningless photos that look pretty now than ever before. He's watching a bio on one of the more profound photographers of our time, despite what we might all think of her personally, and he's wondering what model camera she's using. I don't think they just forgot to mention it – if you're thinking about that you're missing the point.
So yeah, it's frustrating.
Understood. But your post are off topic. I''ll say again this is an industry forum. He did ask 'is it okay to ask questions about why kind of camera's a photographer uses'.
Asking, "What camera does Annie use?" is about as sensible as asking, "What kind of brushes did Picasso use?" - it's irrelevant in any meaningful sense.
Can't say that I necessarily agree with ya there buddy, at least in this case. Are you saying that there's no difference in the quality of an image taken by a POS Rebel XTi and a 1Ds Mark III? Or using a kit lens vs an L?
On the reverse side of this equation, I can definitely see that it doesn't define the photographer or the work product they produce. But there's a reason why they use medium formats for advertising and fashion usually, and it's the quality of the sensors and the glass.
I think you know that as well from what I've seen of your previous posts.
The Alternative Image wrote: In a way it does matter what camera Annie Leibovitz uses, if you have a interest in that person, the same as it would matter to know which make of car
Micheal Schumacher drives in formula one racing if you were a fan off his.
Most photographers know its the photographer who makes the image, not the camera.
just saying.
I agree. Knowing what equipment she uses and the reasons why would be neat to know if you're trying to learn about her. You have to be interested in her, though, not just the gear.
The OP said he was bored after 15 minutes because they weren't talking about her gear. Hardly a fan of her.
Asking, "What camera does Annie use?" is about as sensible as asking, "What kind of brushes did Picasso use?" - it's irrelevant in any meaningful sense.
While visiting Italy a few years back I noticed they showed the tools Michelangelo used to create David. We should call them and tell them how irrelevant that display is to our education on the creation of such a magnificent statue.
Can't say that I necessarily agree with ya there buddy, at least in this case. Are you saying that there's no difference in the quality of an image taken by a POS Rebel XTi and a 1Ds Mark III? Or using a kit lens vs an L?
On the reverse side of this equation, I can definitely see that it doesn't define the photographer or the work product they produce. But there's a reason why they use medium formats for advertising and fashion usually, and it's the quality of the sensors and the glass.
I think you know that as well from what I've seen of your previous posts.
P.S. love your work dude!
Of course there is a difference in the image a Rebel XTi produces and one a 1Dsmkiii produces. There's a difference between a shitty paint brush and a high quality one too, but it doesn't matter which Picasso used – he created the art, regardless of the tools he used.
Alan John Images wrote: "Google's like talking to God with a faster response time."
It does have a faster response time, but I've yet to find it address any of the essential questions about existence, although I haven't found God to have done that well either.
Touche
The Camera in those images is a 5D Mark ii with a 24 to 70. I use the exact same thing and I'm no where near as famous as Annie.
However while I IMMENSELY respect Stefano's work, I have to say gear makes a difference. I was looking back at my first images I shot with a Canon Rebel XS, the color tones are HORRIBLE. The noise at ISO of even 400 is unacceptable.
You can tell it's a 5D ii because there's no on camera Flash. 7D, 50D, all have an on camera Flash. I don't think she would use a 1D because of the crop sensor but I could be wrong.
I agree. Knowing what equipment she uses and the reasons why would be neat to know if you're trying to learn about her. You have to be interested in her, though, not just the gear.
The OP said he was bored after 15 minutes because they weren't talking about her gear. Hardly a fan of her.
Thats true, and I have watched it at least three times.
While visiting Italy a few years back I noticed they showed the tools Michelangelo used to create David. We should call them and tell them how irrelevant that display is to our education on the creation of such a magnificent statue.
They weren't advanced tools, and the museum has an interest in making you curious and wondrous. Same with the Picasso brushes...if he used something substantially less advanced than what we have now and created something amazing by today's standards with those tools, that should definitely be shared.
Knowing which high tech piece of equipment someone you can't watch more than 15 minutes of on a biography....hardly inspiring or humbling.
