Eye to Eye

Annie Leibovitz's Eye to Eye showcases her portrait photography from 1970-1990, featuring celebrities, artists, politicians and cultural figures captured during her work for Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair magazines. The collection includes both color and black-and-white photographs, accompanied by Leibovitz's personal commentary on the circumstances and techniques behind each image. The photographer presents her artistic evolution across two decades, from her early documentary-style work to her later staged portraits. Her subjects range from John Lennon and Yoko Ono to Whoopi Goldberg and Keith Haring, with each photograph revealing the relationship between photographer and subject. Through her lens and written reflections, Leibovitz examines the nature of portraiture and the power dynamics inherent in photography. The book serves as both a chronicle of American culture and an exploration of how images shape our understanding of public figures and artistic expression.

Readers value the intimate glimpses into Leibovitz's creative process and personal life, with the photographs' raw, unguarded quality noted by multiple reviewers. The handwritten notes and contact sheets provide context many found illuminating. Liked: - Behind-the-scenes perspective of her relationship with Susan Sontag - Mix of personal and professional photographs - Quality of reproduction and paper - Inclusion of technical details and shooting circumstances Disliked: - Some found the layout confusing and text placement awkward - Price point ($75-100) considered high by several reviewers - Limited coverage of her early career - Paper quality in newer editions not matching original printing Ratings: Goodreads: 4.4/5 (219 ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (42 reviews) LibraryThing: 4.3/5 (12 ratings) "The contact sheets alone are worth the price" - Amazon reviewer "More diary than portfolio" - Goodreads reviewer

Portraits by Richard Avedon A collection of stark black-and-white portraits capturing cultural figures and everyday Americans across decades of American life.

Looking at Photographs by John Szarkowski The former MoMA photography curator analyzes 100 photographs from the museum's collection, revealing the technical and artistic decisions behind each image.

Life in Photography by Henri Cartier-Bresson The definitive collection of work by the photographer who pioneered street photography and captured the "decisive moment" across six decades of images.

The Americans by Robert Frank A raw photographic journey across 1950s America that documents the nation's social landscape through the lens of an outsider.

Women by Annie Leibovitz A photographic study of women from all walks of life, from coal miners to Supreme Court Justices, that expands on themes present in Eye to Eye.

📚 "Eye to Eye" marks Annie Leibovitz's third published collection of photographs, released in 1991 during her tenure as chief photographer for Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair magazines. 🎞️ The book features entirely black and white portraits, a deliberate artistic choice that differs from her later works which became known for their bold use of color. 📸 Many of the portraits in "Eye to Eye" were captured using a 35mm camera, allowing Leibovitz to work more spontaneously and intimately with her subjects compared to her usual medium format equipment. 🌟 The collection includes iconic portraits of numerous celebrities from the 1970s and 1980s, including John Lennon and Yoko Ono's famous embrace, photographed just hours before Lennon's death. ✨ Unlike her later, more elaborate staged photographs, the images in "Eye to Eye" showcase a raw, documentary-style approach that emphasizes genuine moments and natural expressions.