The Leibovitz Recipe – Number Six – Quirky

Here’s one of Annie’s older photos, and it’s not just a simple pose and smile. She’s capturing this guy lighting a cigarette…mid-puff. Perhaps this is when Henri Cartier-Bresson’s inspiration started to take form. The candid rawness of street photography can be seen here, and it seems to be one of her earliest ingredients…not lighting, fabric, or a blank canvas background. This edginess was sprinkled with some fun and turned into quirkiness. We’ll see how it carried on throughout more elaborate settings with other well-known celebrities.

Here’s a fun celebrity photo. Of course she can’t be riding a bike like a normal person. Annie has to capture her getting a little weird. Did Annie ask her to do this, or was the celebrity waiting to finally show off this childhood trick? Either way, I’m sure they are both having a blast!

This quirky setup is quite elaborate, and it’s meant to be a little offbeat…right up Annie’s alley.

Annie has captured a lot of Disney themed photos, and this one is from Alice in Wonderland. It is almost as if these companies request Annie to shoot it if there is any quirkiness involved. 

There are plenty of professional photographers to choose from, but not all of them have this quirkiness as part of their artistic style.

Here we have Lady Gaga, who is already eccentric in her own way, but look at what they create when working together. High fashion at a laundry mat and a hot dog stand? 

This is another Lady Gaga photo where the outfit is absolutely absurd. Amazing for sure, but it’s got that Annie edginess that these celebrities love.

The photos just keep getting weirder and weirder. Who thinks of this stuff? This was surely a set that was designed to be upside down, then the photo was flipped in post.

See, something like this. If she had longer hair they would have to photoshop it to stand upright.

Does it get any more quirky than this? These celebrities know where to go if they want a fun image, but also something that is well composed. In this candid-style photo with all of the behind the scenes junk in it, we see nice FGR (see Day 21), soft lighting (see #554), and an aspective view (see Day 78). Annie is a master for a reason!

Here are some more with the same celebrity.

Annie is capturing a comedian in a quirky setting here, while also cutting off her limbs. Signature Annie photo! If she photoshopped in some strategically placed milk bubbles it could get even more crazy.

This one is similar to the Alice in Wonderland photo. Robert Downey Jr. has his own eccentric side, so this is another great collaboration of weird minds.

Here are some wild portraits for you.

This one is so random, it gives us that quirky feeling. Some guy sitting in a puffy orange coat like he’s Batman. “Hmmm,” thinks the viewer…”this must be another Annie photo.”

Enjoy the rest of the photos and you’ll surely see how Annie has carried her quirky edge with her since the early days. Some artistic styles never die!

Gotta save the MJ shot for last. If any of these celebrities were eccentric, it was him!