What lens is used by Annie Leibovitz?

[MFstooges]

When I went through her photographs made during her early career stage at Rolling Stones it looks like wide angle lens to me but her book only mentions that Annie uses portrait length lens which I suspect refers to her later studio bound career.
Does anyone know what lens she used for her earlier 'journalism style' shots?

 

[Chuck1]

I'm sure she had more than one lens

 

[Pieter12]

When I went through her photographs made during her early career stage at Rolling Stones it looks like wide angle lens to me but her book only mentions that Annie uses portrait length lens which I suspect refers to her later studio bound career.
Does anyone know what lens she used for her earlier 'journalism style' shots?

I don't know why you refer to it as "journalism style." She was a journalist.

 

[MFstooges]

I'm sure she had more than one lens

Sure she does, but there's the stage where she works mainly with 35mm and the VOF doesn't look like portrait lens

 

[Pieter12]

And it matters because...

 

[BrianShaw]

I have a vague recollection that she preferred to use normal to short-telephoto lenses.

 

[BrianShaw]

And it matters because...

Curiosity?

 

[Pieter12]

You might want to read "Annie Liebovitz at Work," the information could be there.

 

[MFstooges]

You might want to read "Annie Liebovitz at Work," the information could be there.

You might want to read my first post

 

[Pieter12]

You don't mention which book. There are several.

 

[MattKing]

The John Lennon Yoko Ono cover was, I believe, shot using a Polaroid camera or back.

 

[MFstooges]

You don't mention which book. There are several.

Sure.

 

[MFstooges]

The John Lennon Yoko Ono cover was, I believe, shot using a Polaroid camera or back.

I have a vague recollection that she preferred to use normal to short-telephoto lenses.

Yes when she reaches this later stage where her photos are planned I believe she uses short tele lens.

 

[Alex Benjamin]

When I went through her photographs made during her early career stage at Rolling Stones it looks like wide angle lens to me but her book only mentions that Annie uses portrait length lens which I suspect refers to her later studio bound career.
Does anyone know what lens she used for her earlier 'journalism style' shots?

No photojournalist — which she was back then — on assingment would carry just one lens. Minimum three lens set-up for the 35mm camera would be either a 28mm or a 35mm, a 50mm and either a 85mm or 105mm. this minimal set-up allowed you to adapt to the situation — outdoors, hotel room, portrait, group, etc. — and get the strongest possible shot. That shot was your livelihood. You didn't want to miss it by not having the right lens nearby.

BTW, contrary to popular belief, Henri Cartier-Bresson carried a 35mm and a 90mm lens with his 50mm when on assignment, not just the 50mm.

Young Annie L. and her Nikon :

 

[Pieter12]

A 50mm 1.4?

 

[Pieter12]

3 Nikons here.

 

[MFstooges]

No photojournalist — which she was back then — on assingment would carry just one lens. Minimum three lens set-up for the 35mm camera would be either a 28mm or a 35mm, a 50mm and either a 85mm or 105mm. this minimal set-up allowed you to adapt to the situation — outdoors, hotel room, portrait, group, etc. — and get the strongest possible shot. That shot was your livelihood. You didn't want to miss it by not having the right lens nearby.

BTW, contrary to popular belief, Henri Cartier-Bresson carried a 35mm and a 90mm lens with his 50mm when on assignment, not just the 50mm.

Young Annie L. and her Nikon :

Very interesting. I wonder who's Bob that is written on that box. Robert Love worked at Rolling Stones around 80s so that it most likely not him.

 

[MFstooges]

Here is one of her photo that caused my curiosity

RS @ Stage

 

[mshchem]

She did a lot of work with RZ67 cameras. I think she's using some sort of Hasselblad digital setup these days. Prolific, tremendous volume of work.

 

[Alex Benjamin]

Here is one of her photo that caused my curiosity

RS @ Stage

I'd put my money on a 20mm.

3 Nikons here.

2 or 3 cameras, 2 or 3 different lenses (wide, normal, short tele) allows for quick reaction to the situation, rather than having to change lenses. Was a familiar set-up during the Vietnam war.

 

[Alex Benjamin]

Here's Larry Burrows with his set.

Back to Annie's lenses. This was probably a 28mm

Probably an 85mm

 

[pentaxuser]

Here's Larry Burrows with his set.

Probably an 85mm

 

[pentaxuser]

Is 85mm a guess on your part or did the man with his back to us say this was his estimate on looking?

pentaxuser

 

[MFstooges]

I'd put my money on a 20mm.



2 or 3 cameras, 2 or 3 different lenses (wide, normal, short tele) allows for quick reaction to the situation, rather than having to change lenses. Was a familiar set-up during the Vietnam war.

It's safe to assume that the camera with widest lens is closest to the chin and the longest is the furthest

 

[MFstooges]

Is 85mm a guess on your part or did the man with his back to us say this was his estimate on looking?

pentaxuser

Alex guessed the lens is 28mm while Arnie may said it is 85mm