Annie Leibovitz – American portrait photographer
Miley Cyrus – Vanity Fair Magazine – June 2008
This image taken of teen superstar Miley Cyrus was taken in June 2008 by American photographer Annie Leibovitz at the green hills of Calabasas, California. The image was taken in a picturesque setting in a relaxed family atmosphere. Leibovitz wanted to create a beautiful and simple image for Vanity Fair yet viewers misinterpreted the image to be a cheap bedroom shot and believed that Miley was manipulated into doing the shot. When asked about the image Leibovitz simply said
“I'm sorry that my portrait of Miley has been misinterpreted. The photograph is a simple, classic portrait, shot with very little makeup, and I think it is very beautiful." – Annie Leibovitz
This image was originally published alongside an interview with Miley for Vanity Fair Magazine. Also other images taken of Miley with her father were printed with this controversial image. Over time people have come to realise that this image was often misinterpreted and are starting to look at it as the beautifully simple portrait which Leibovitz wanted to produce in the beginning.
There was a lot of controversy and bad press surrounding this image and there are many different things people have said about this image including;
“I believe that this picture is not sexual, awhile back this was thought of as art, now because of changes in our society, we have convinced ourselves that true art is porn.” And “I have to agree with those who know it's inappropriate for a young girl to even be put in that compromising situation by adults who know better. She is just a little girl, now she is being tempted by adults who wish she was more grown up already. Let her be a kid, there is plenty of time to grow up! Even her bare back is not “tasteful” and if people don't want us to say this is wrong, they might have a few issues. Kids need us to stand up for what's right. We are the example.” http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2008/04/video-annie-lei.html
8/09/2008
In the rectangular portrait frame of the image, Miley is sat side on to the camera and directly in the centre of the frame. She is sat with her naked back exposed to the viewer with a cream silk fabric covering her front and the lower part of her back. Her gaze is looking off past the camera to the left of the photographer; her gaze mixed with her pose creates an innocence in the beauty of the image. The image is simple with just the model as the main focus against a simple grey backdrop.
Bibliography
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annie_Leibovitz
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20195876,00.html
http://www.hollywood.com/news/Annie_Leibovitz_Miley_Cyrus_Photos_Were_Misinterpreted/5226536
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/apr/28/pressandpublishing1
http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2008/06/miley200806
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article3835597.ece
http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2008/04/video-annie-lei.html
