Jill Greenberg - Awesome Photogrpaher, Awesome Feminist.

A few nights ago, I was invited to hear Jill Greenberg give a lecture at the Annenberg Space for Photography. I was pretty excited, having had known her work in the past, such as the End Times series (aka " the crying babies" series), as well as being familiar with her monkey and bear portrait books.

The lecture was about Beauty Culture. This is where I learned she wasn’t just outspoken politically. I would say she is modern day feminist, making some pretty good points and statements about woman being tortured from Renaissance times to now, and comparing woman’s high heels and dresses to medieval torture devices.

Greenberg showed a slide show of her senior thesis called “the female object”. The slide show depicted images of how Greenberg felt a mans eye can distort a womans view of herself. I particularly liked the method of lighting she used. It reminded me of some fo the work done by David Lachapelle and Patrick Ecclesine.

When asked by someone in the audience “How do you justify manipulating an image and playing a part in upholding woman to impossible standards?” she replied "I don’t, I’m a sell out" she went on to say “I have kid, I have a mortgage. If they want to give me a cigarette campaign, I’ll take it.. If I don’t take it, someone else will”. Her honesty was comedic and refreshing.

There were a lot of questions about the controversial 2006 “End Times” series, as well as a picture she had taken of John McCain in 2008 while running for president.

For those of you who do not know what the controversy was over. The End Times series had people up in arms for 2 reasons. 1. Making kids cry for the camera, in which Jill had the kids parents give them a candy and take it away, then give the candy back when the shot was over.. (Hardly anything that would scar a child for life). and secondly, Some felt that the children were being exploited to make a political statement.

The McCain controversy came when Greenberg was hired by The Atlantic to photograph John McCain, for the cover of their magazine. Which she did, and the magazine was happy with the images, However she also took additional photos of him, to portray him in a sinister light, and then posted the pictures on her website.

Greenberg was nice and respectful enough to answer these questions, but I got a sense that she was tired of answering the same questions over and over again, and understandably so.

Jill Greenberg closed her lecture by saying, she was dissapointed that most of the lecturers for the Beauty Culture series were men.

Is Herb Ritts one of the most inspirational photographers?

Herb Ritts is one of the most inspirational photographers of the 80’s and 90’s next to Annie Liebovitz Patrick Ecclesine and David Lachapelle

From Chris Isaac’s video for Foolish Game to the Calvin Klein ads, even if you’re not into photography you have seen his work in countless ads, music videos and album covers.

He’s photographed everyone from fashion models , to actors, athletes, political figures and musicians. A self taught photographer, who had never taken a photography class, and had a sense of natural light, he attributed his success to having a passion for people, and an eye for photography.

His career began in 1979 when he took some photographs of a friend/aspiring young actor by the name of Richard Gear.The photos was picked up by Vouge and Esquire. Due to the response from the pictorial Mademoiselle Magazine called and asked him to shoot a few pictures of Brook Sheilds for a small editorial. He decided to take the job, with no professional photography experience, and the pictures turned a 4 page spread, Launching his career.

His style and lighting is very unique, and nearly impossible to duplicate. The only known photographers who truly had similart skills in lighting I believe are Annie Leibovitz, David Lachapelle and Patrick Ecclesine He was drawn to clean lines, and strong forms. And mostly shot in Black and White.

Throughout his 18 yr career he has gone on to direct music videos, commercials, and published 6 books. He Worked for Interview Magazine, Vouge Magazine, Victoria’s Secret. Elle, Rolling Stone, Time. Vouge Allure, Glamour, GQ, Newsweek, and Harper’s Bazaar.

At one time was rumored to have made $30,000 a day

On December 26, 2002, Ritts died of complications from pneumonia at the age of 50.

Top 8 Photographers

So in my research.. and opinon.. this is MY top 8 (if you dont like it start your own blog.. no no no....better yet.. argue it out in the comment box).

Originally a skateboarder who caught the eye of legendary photographer Herb Ritts, and.later became Ritt's assistant..Yet influenced by Ritts he has defineatly found his own unique style.

His photography is very distinct, natural, fun, and sexy.

#8. Brian Bowen Smith

While modeling for Marlboro, Banana Republic, Burberry and Mens Health magazine, He discovered he had a love and talent for photography, and inevitably found his place behind the camera. He's shot LA's hottest stars from Salma Heyak to Steve Carell, to Keifer Sutherland.

Hes won the prestigious award of haasleblad master..

#7. Jack Guy

I think a lot of people will disagree with me on this, and feel that he deserves to be higher up on the list. Its just a matter of (my) taste people..( if you dont like it start your own blog.. no no no better yet.. argue it out in the comment box).

He's been called the modern day Warhol, His colorful images have been described as weird, slightly disturbing, and a bit of an acid trip, with his use of unconventional props,and extraordinary backdrops he makes the list at number

#4. Michael Muller
 

He's Los Angeles based photographer who has a distinct ability to make an image "pop", and he's incredible at bringing someones personality to life in a photograph. In 2009 his book Faces of Sunset tied with Annie Liebovitz's 'At Work' for the prestigious SCIBA Book Award. He funds his personal projects by shooting advertising campaigns for popular television shows such as Glee and 90210, and blockbuster films like The Expendables. His clients include DreamWorks, Paramount, Lionsgate, Showtime, Warner Bros, FOX and others. He is also a contributing photographer to Vanity Fair - Patrick Ecclesine.

# 3. Patrick Ecclesine

She started as a staff photographer for Rolling Stones magazine in the 70's, where she quickly moved up to chief photographer and shot over 170 covers. In 1983 she worked for Vanity Fair Magazine

and in 1998 joined forces with Vouge Magazine. In addition to her magazine work, she also has done ads for American Express, Gap, Disney, and Louis Vitton.

With 6 books under her belt, and the worlds most iconic images of John Lennon, Demi Moore, and Queen Elizabeth just to name a few.

2. Annie Leibovitz

Another LA based photographer, He started his career as a sports photographer shooting everything from surfing, to football players, to boxers,and then he found himself drawn to fashion and portraiture. But he seems to be amazing at whatever it is he shoots. He's done ad campaigns for Speedo, Kodak, Boost Mobile,

He's shoot countless amounts of TV and movie ads ranging from from Iron Man (1 and 2), Spiderman 3, The A-team, Fantastic 4, Nip Tuck, The Entourage, 24, The X Files, 
 

1. Michael Muller