So, I was fiddling around the other day, just browsing, and the name Annie Leibovitz popped up alongside Queen Elizabeth. It kind of stuck in my head, you know? I thought, “Huh, that’s an interesting mix.” I’ve always admired Leibovitz’s work, her portraits are just something else, and well, the Queen is the Queen. It made me want to dig a bit deeper into how that whole thing went down.
My Little Investigation
First off, I just typed their names into a search engine, the usual starting point. Lots of pictures came up, obviously. But I wasn’t just after the final images. I wanted to know the story behind them, the process, the interactions. So, I started looking for articles, interviews, maybe even some behind-the-scenes tidbits.
I found out Leibovitz actually photographed Her Majesty a couple of times. The first time was back in 2007, and then again in 2016 for her 90th birthday. That 2007 shoot, apparently, was a bit of a big deal. It was for the Queen’s state visit to the U.S. I remember reading something about a documentary crew being there, and some fuss about a clip that made it look like the Queen was unhappy or stormed off. Turns out, that was just some clever editing, or misleading editing, you could say. The Beeb even had to apologize for that one. Classic stuff, right?
Getting the Shots
What I really focused on was how Leibovitz approached it. She’s got this very distinct, dramatic style. Her photos often look like paintings. I was curious if she’d tone it down for royalty, or if she’d go full Annie.
- The Style: From what I saw and read, she definitely brought her signature style. The portraits from 2007 were quite grand, very atmospheric. Not your everyday royal snaps.
- The “Tiara” Moment: I stumbled upon this story several times. Apparently, during that 2007 session, Leibovitz suggested the Queen remove her tiara for a shot, saying something like it would be “less dressy” or that the “gowns are so extraordinary.” Some reports said the Queen wasn’t thrilled initially, or gave a sharp reply about not changing anything, but Leibovitz later clarified it was more of a misunderstanding and the Queen was fine. Either way, it shows Leibovitz isn’t afraid to direct, no matter who’s in front of the lens! Takes guts.
- The Locations: They used Buckingham Palace, of course. The backdrops in those photos are incredible – all that history.
- The 2016 Shoots: Then for the 90th birthday, the vibe seemed a bit different. There were those lovely, softer photos of the Queen with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. And the ones with her corgis! Those felt much more personal and relaxed, I thought. Still very Leibovitz, but with a different warmth.
What I Reckon
After going through all this, I felt like I got a bit of a glimpse into a pretty unique project. It’s one thing to photograph a celebrity, but a reigning monarch, with all the protocol and tradition? That’s a whole other kettle of fish.
It’s all about vision: Leibovitz clearly had a vision for how she wanted to portray the Queen. She wasn’t just there to take a picture; she was there to create an image, something iconic. And I think she did.
A bit of trust: The Queen, by agreeing to be photographed by someone like Leibovitz, also showed a certain openness, I think. Allowing a photographer known for her strong, sometimes edgy, style to capture her image says something.
It was just a fascinating little journey for me, looking into how these photos came to be. It’s more than just pointing and shooting; it’s about the preparation, the interaction, trying to capture something real even in a very formal setting. Those images are definitely ones that will be looked at for a long, long time. And it was quite the experience just piecing together the story behind them from my end.
