Week 7 – Artist – Nan Goldin & Annie Leibovitz

I first looked up Nan Goldie’s work and was amazed by it. Nan Goldin is a photographer that often took pictures of her lovers, friends, and other people she may have known in the queer scene in the 80’s. Her work is considered postmodern art. She is a survivor of the opioid crisis and has used her art and photography to share the vulnerability of people and love. The work that I chose for Nan is Amanda in the Sauna, Hotel Savoy. I was kind of drawn to it because I like the vulnerability that it took for Amanda to pose for the photo. Being naked is one thing but being photographed takes some guts. I like how there is a sense of innocence in the photo. I feel like her direct stare to me is almost calming. Moving to Annie Leibovitz, she is a photographer as well. From what I read and saw Annie’s work is primarily with celebrities. Her work has been in Rolling Stone Magazine and often shows celebrities in abstract ways. The photo I like the most after looking at her work was of Anjelica Huston. She posed Huston in a chair with a sort of masculine stance. She is toned and young and her glare towards the camera is very intense. I love Huston for many reasons and once I saw this photo I couldn’t stop looking at it. The wild rug and background caught my eye as well. I am not used to seeing Huston in this way, I grew up watching her on the Addams family. Leibovitz’s manufactured portraits are different from Goldie’s because Goldie’s are much more free and spur of the moment. Her portraits were taken in times of sadness, love, happiness, and adventure. Leibovitz aimed for a more polished style. I tend to think Goldin’s work is more authentic in a way because she would take pictures or events and times when she felt it was necessary. No backdrop or lighting check, just raw. However, I do not think this matters because my favorite type of portrait is the kind that Leibovitz does. More polished but still abstract and out there. If I was to hire someone to take my environmental portrait I would hire Annie Leibovitz