Annie Leibovitz at Work

Leibovitz looks back at her career and the images that helped propel her to photographic superstardom in this captivating photo anthology. The bulk of the book focuses on Leibovitz’s most famous images, such as of Nixon’s resignation, the Apollo 17 shuttle launch, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, and the Bush administration in the Cabinet Room of the White House. In essays that accompany each photo series, Leibovitz explains the history and circumstances behind each image. She describes her work as simply capturing a moment, and is self-aware enough to freely admit to her own shortcomings. During a photo session at Philip Johnson’s Glass House, for instance, she recounts how she ignored the owner: “I kept saying, Oh, you can do something else, and I walked around, rather rudely, taking pictures.” Leibovitz possesses a down-to-earth view, such as describing the Pirelli fashion calendar, which she shot for the 2016 edition, as “Essentially a pinup calendar produced in a limited edition.” Other anecdotes are more personal, such as describing her time documenting life during the siege of Sarajevo in 1993. This fascinating work will appeal to photography historians and casual observers alike. (Nov.)