Annie Leibovitz Talk

Annie Leibovitz Talk

I had the opportunity to hear Annie Leibovitz speak last night and in addition to enjoying her slides as a photographer I was heartened both by what she said and what she didn't say....

At core photography is a lonely profession. No matter your specialty, you are alone behind the camera and only one person clicks the shutter. In particular those of us who specialize in nature photography spend a great deal of solitary time in the field. So it becomes easy to fall prey to self-doubt when things don't come together or to a rush of egotism when they do. Annie reiterated what most of us who have done it for awhile have learned about photography and have tried to internalize--that at some level it is work. You put in the work and make opportunities for yourself.  Then, at the end of the day, sometimes "the clouds roll in, the light gets soft and the magic happens" or it doesn't. What she didn't say is what photorgraphers like Jay Maisel and other photo legends also don't say: there is some kind of magical quality they have that others don't. Obviously they have unique talents, skills and a huge work ethic. But they are quick to encourage everyone to go out and learn, to shoot and persevere--and to believe that great photographs lie within everyone.