Annie Leibovitz’s Latest Vogue Shoot Is Causing Controversy

Annie Leibovitz’s Latest Vogue Shoot Is Causing Controversy

For me, it seems like hurricane Sandy was forever ago. Then again I live in Las Vegas, and I wasn’t affected by it. Talking to friends and family back east though, it’s a different story. Vogue is catching a lot of heat from angry readers, saying that their latest fashion shoot by Annie Leibovitz is exploiting and profiting off of the recent natural disaster.

The shoot is meant to highlight the “bravest and brightest,” and features models with people who were instrumental in the recovery efforts. Although it would seem Vogue’s intentions are pure, people are still upset. It is important to note though that The Guardian pointed out that since the beginning Vogue has been helping in relief efforts, having raised over 1.7 million dollars. In my opinion I don’t think Vogue has done anything wrong, they spotlighted some brave and wonderful people in a way that is unique and very Vogue. Considering all they have done to support the relief efforts, I think that getting outraged over a shoot that was meant to feature people crucial in the relief efforts is a little overboard. What do you think?

vogue fashionshoot 00 Annie Leibovitzs Latest Vogue Shoot Is Causing Controversy

vogue fashionshoot 02 Annie Leibovitzs Latest Vogue Shoot Is Causing Controversy

vogue fashionshoot 03 Annie Leibovitzs Latest Vogue Shoot Is Causing Controversy

vogue fashionshoot 04 Annie Leibovitzs Latest Vogue Shoot Is Causing Controversy

vogue fashionshoot 05 Annie Leibovitzs Latest Vogue Shoot Is Causing Controversy

[via HUH]

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http://twitter.com/Brian_Hawkins Brian Hawkins
The concept sounded odd at first, but after seeing the photos, I really like it. Very fresh, creative, and perfectly executed. I’m don’t see anything controversial about it. People are too sensitive these days.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1523970407 Peter Vives
The images are awesome and pay respect to all the hard working folks who have helped and still help with the recovery from that hard hitting storm. Great job Annie!!
vonwong
I think they’re great
http://www.facebook.com/Choco2late Ron Sanchez
this pictures are great, why is it that people would alway find something negative to say even if it doesn’t make any sense, if you dont like it dont buy the magazine.
http://profile.yahoo.com/6VEA6HACWXRIGO2NVBGWXVLB6M harry
As a service member, maybe it’s just me but I don’t get it…
The best shots where the concept kind of blends seamlessly is the Coast Guard shot and the Police chopper shot. The others are kind of lost on me.
Mike_Kelley
Harden up, America.
http://www.facebook.com/NormCooper Norm Cooper
I was half expecting to see Bette Midler and friends in their French party dresses
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2226124/Hocus-Pocus-star-Bette-Midler-hosts-extravagant-French-themed-Halloween-party-New-York.html
Caitlyn Chapman
Not a fan. Pay homage sure but the models look silly. I don’t feel like it’s saying anything negative or controversial, I just don’t think it’s that great of a concept. Steven Meisel may have done it better :)
http://www.facebook.com/AnMiTh Anthony Thurston
People will always find something to bi**h about. Nothing wrong with the concept or the photos.
http://www.facebook.com/sander.baks Sander Baks
I have to say that these images don’t look that “stunning” to me..
I mean, compared to all of her other work, this is below her standards, imho.
Controversy ? Nah .. Not even close..
But I’m from The Netherlands, we hardly ever do “Controversy” here.. Grow-up I’d say to the ones that have a problem with these images.
JosephRT
I know it’s Vogue and all but I think they could have done without the supermodels on this one and just featured the first responders. Disclaimer: I wasn’t affected by Sandy
JLI
The only reason I would discredit her work for Vouge is because in each of the images shown here, the models are placed in very constrasting colors compared to the rest of the image, which pulls the eye to them, making them the focus instead of the heroes they are claiming to honor. Other than that, I don’t find the images to very captivating or reek of high fashion.
tyrohne
big fan and think Mike Kelly was spot on in his comment.
HSmith
Looking at these photos, it seems to me that she is trying to use the models to show the first responders in a positive way. I understand that there is lot of bitterness in the East about the way things were handled after Sandy, but these people did their best and deserve all the credit we can give them.
Paul Hance
Folks Should shut up. Vogue help to raise over a million bucks. So they have to get paid. lol Only in the US folks bitch about everything. lol Images are nice.
http://www.paulhancephotography.com
pvbella
Some people should lighten up in their oh so tender sensitivities.
Cygni
I think it’s great images. Glad the real heroes can join.
Cygni
I think it’s great images. Glad the real heroes can join.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000517595804 Andrew Ducker
Wow, these are awesome. I can be a Leibovitz critic at times but I really enjoyed this series.
http://twitter.com/georgesocka George Socka
It is Vogue howevr, which is all about fashion. Not Popular mechanics
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=847470423 Louis Rafael Rosenthal
The best artists are those who manage to get the world talking about their work.
I can see both points of view being reasonable.
http://www.facebook.com/timgallo84 Tim Gallo
not bad. but most important the “heroes” agreed to do it. and it seems like the enjoy the shoot. so its a good cause.. and vogue raises money for charity.
but the pictures itself – meh, fashion and vogue seen better than than. probably nobody would remember them at the end of the year…
http://www.facebook.com/robke007 Robbie Rousseau
Meh. I don’t think there’s anything controversial about these, but as mentioned above, I don’t get the models with the setting.
092009
Ooops! They forgot motion blur on the tail rotor.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=754554855 Edd Carlile
Really crap idea….the juxtaposition of real people doing real jobs alongside the completely irrelevant fluff of the clothes horse brigade is as asinine as you can get.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000013742481 Glenn Marsh
I live in NJ and haven’t heard one single comment from anyone including the local news channels with regard to this so called “contoversy”.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_7AVYUWSTFI4KN2KGDZWKXHNCMM Timothy Isaac
I totally agree with most of the comments here, it’s fresh and perfectly executed. Yes people are way too damn sensitive these days. Damn strawberry generation.
http://www.facebook.com/tguillaro Tony Guillaro
Right there with ya
http://twitter.com/davidstephen David S Kalonick
There’s nothing wrong with editorial praising those who’ve done so much for the hurricane, with a slice of fashion and the models that helped out with the hurricane. + the raise $1.7 million! Some people are idiots.
http://www.facebook.com/rodrigo.maori Rodrigo Maori
The concept is NOT NEW EITHER FRESH…
http://www.facebook.com/rodrigo.maori Rodrigo Maori
As i said, this concept is not new, either fresh. Nana Gouveia did herself a photoshoot after the Sandy storm. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sr7JS7tbKo ive seen better and smatter work from bouth: Vogue and Anie
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=536559084 Steve Milton
i think some of the images are great, fresh and exciting others suffer from the ‘stick a pretty girl in the shot’ syndrome! as far as the exploiting and profiting goes i think people are just over sensitive.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=621275321 Joshua Nyenhuis
So a bunch of groups with anorexic models? Yawn
RXMAN2
I don’t want to like her work but these are quite good. What I really want to know is how she took the one of the models on the boat. I would love to see a behind the scenes video
http://www.facebook.com/mike.dooley.31 Mike Dooley
At first I didn’t understand the concept, but once I saw the images I liked them. I do no feel that they were exploitative in any way. I like to see that we are recognizing the men and women that helps others, we should do it more.
http://www.facebook.com/deondre.bonds DeOndré Jõvan Bonds
I agree. Those two seem to fit perfectly together, while the others look like the photog was trying too hard. I do appreciate their efforts and intent behind the images though
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=557985499 Sophie Boo
Just putting this here – ‘It’s now very common to hear people say, “I’m rather offended by that”, as if that gives them certain rights. It’s no more than a whine. It has no meaning, it has no purpose, it has no reason to be respected as a phrase. “I’m offended by that.” Well, so fucking what?’ —Stephen Fry
http://profile.yahoo.com/FB4SQG2JN7PZXPVGQVGAJQCQWU N
There is definitely no controversy – just the models look odd next to the real heroes. Anne Lebowitz should have highlighted the brave work of the service men and women. Not some ridunkculous models that did nothing for the nation.
http://www.facebook.com/mma.ford Michelle Aenlle Ford
vogue is NOT a news magazine or a journalistic photo mag. if they wanted to feature the brave heroes this was the vogue way to do it. it totally makes sense! if the people featured in it weren’t offended (they were probably flattered), why the hell would anyone else chime in otherwise? ugh, people just need to be upset about something. whacked out sense of entitlement.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Roger-Harman/1387341070 Roger Harman
I agree with SophieBoo and SF ….. People moan for the sake of it, just because someone has nudged their cocoon. I think the images are an interesting concept with good use of juxtaposition ideally suited to Vogue. I’m not an ardent fan of Leibovitz’s work but she does produce some interesting images.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1161657585 Ryan Cooper
People are too queasy about this sort of thing. We have to be so sensitive now it is painful. This was a genuine attempt to showcase the bravery and actions of heroes during the storm and people STILL take it as an insult. This is really no different than Joe McNally’s “Faces of 9/11″ project other than it contains models. Our society needs to grow a thicker skin.
Also, as usual, lately, Annie’s photography is very mediocre at best. As with her previous shoots in 2012 they all scream: “huge budget but nothing special”. She is a proficient enough photographer but she is no longer the titan she once was. There are many photographers out there who are doing work that blows her’s away.
http://www.hornetdesigns.com/ Gabrielle Horner
Art at it’s very core envokes emotional responses, that is, after all, the intent of the artist. These are great shots, and I agree with Michelle Aenlle Ford’s statement: “vogue is NOT a news magazine or a journalistic photo mag. if they wanted to feature the brave heroes this was the vogue way to do it.”
I see no real controversy here, and the fact that Vouge has raised and donated so much money for disaster relief, is just an added bonus in their favor.
Ed Szczepanski
Why have the models?? I don’t understand. Vogue isn’t doing anything wrong here in my opinion.
But to me, it’s strange to have sexy women posing with people who are supposed to be the ‘highlight’ of the shoot. Don’t we use sexy women to attract attention to products and concepts? I think the attract attention away from “the feature” of this photos.
Diana Deaver
This makes me sad…have we become so desperate to market fashion we are using destruction, death and loss as a platform for it? If your house was completely destroyed and one of these men who gave you a cup of hot soup was “highlighted” by being put next to a flawless model at least one head taller than them, would you still feel the same?
What does bravery have to do with clothing? How are these men being honored in these images? I can almost hear them: Oh, great job Vogue, for giving us the permission to be in your magazine. We feel honored.
Oh and to be clear, hurricane Sandy killed 125 people and caused a loss of 50 billion dollars. Once again, Vogue raised 1.7 million dollars…which is 0.0034% of that loss…again…wow!
http://profile.yahoo.com/Q6JVRC4PJDO7EQRUE3CPZK4VQQ Christy
I don’t see the controvery in these photos. With that said, I don’t like them. The models themselves stand out too much and take away from the subject. I think the models should have blended more. You can’t even see the guy in th coast guard photo.
Esther Diehl Turner
I could go either way on this but those firemen in the last photo sure do look happy!
http://twitter.com/mkayephoto Michelle
In General I don’t mind the idea, and some of the photos are neat, however a few of them just make me feel/looks like the girls are just in the way of them doing their job HAHAHA
I like the odd feeling the idea/photos give off. Well dressed, good looking girls with everyday people in everyday or working gear/clothes.
Otherwise knowing how hard these people work, i kinda feel like saying “get off” or “can you move so I can actually get this to someone in need?” HAHAHAHA
I know it is posed but it just makes me laugh.
http://twitter.com/MelanySarafis Melany Sarafis
Screw what they say — those heros DESERVE to be in the spotlight. Lose the models though, they’re out of place and out of their league with these people.
kenyee
Don’t think they’re offensive, but also don’t think they stand out….just an “ehhh” for me. She obviously was leaning on the publicity from that other model who did a shoot on Sandy Hook wreckage.
tonyc0101
The quality and process of the pics are superb but it’s the context that is confusing…like why are the models still in “their own little world” and seem far removed from the gritty human reality that the servicemen next to them experience everyday? I could see it if the models were pretending to need rescuing or were even dirtied up to fit the environment. Just seems gimmicky and actually doesn’t highlight the servicemen at all, actually highlights the fact that they are “just there” as props.

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