Leibovitz Picture Declared "Worst Photograph Ever Made"

We swear this isn't supposed to be pick-on-Annie week, but we have to share this:

Mike Johnston, on his site The Online Photographer, has written a critique of what he calls "The Worst Photograph Ever Made." It's an image shot by Annie Leibovitz for the 2009 Lavazza espresso calendar. How bad is it? We'll let the picture speak for itself:

Johnston has nailed it, down to the "hilariously incongruous product placement" coupled with "no trace of irony." If Ben Stiller ever made a Zoolander-esque comedy about photography, his character would shoot a photo identical to this one.

Now we could have a pointless debate about whether this is really the worst photo of all time, but here's a better suggestion: What's the worst photo in the 2009 Lavazza calendar? (Follow that link and click on "photos.") Is anybody willing to defend September-October?

Related: PDN Network site PhotoServe has details about who's responsible for this project and how it was done. Note that ad agency Armando Testa came up with the concepts and Leibovitz was unable to shoot on location because of "time and budgetary constraints."

(Spotted first on Jörg Colberg's Conscientious blog.)

Comments

[dave Robertson]

Wow it's funny to see Leibovitz exhibiting classic over the top photoshop newbi-ism with this and the Disney stuff. One hopes she gets through this phase quickly and intact!

[Gregg]

Take a look at the credits.. Stylist was Nicoletta Santoro. No wonder Annie skipped her bill.

[MarcW]

Since I had nothing to do with it it cannot by definition be the worst photograph ever made, but for photographs in the I-Was-Not-Involved class, it's way, way up there. If we adjust for dollars per frame, I suspect it stands far above its nearest competitor.

[Chad]

Annie herself has related how much she loves her new digi-cam and digital photography... opening new doors and such. Its too bad that since she went digital the photos have become drastically over-produced and a pale shadow of some of her earlier work. Its a little like what happened to some of the great musicians of the late 60s and 70s in the 80s (think Stevie Winwood or Jefferson Airplane). Kinda sad.

[Marshal]

Do you think Annie might be getting lazy in the latter years of her career? I like some of the models though. As for the September/October shot, I'd like to have THAT for dinner tonight.
That's a delicious looking plate. :-) lol

[Dan]

It's hardly the worst photo out there--just common over-the-top retouching. It's an ad photo that got our attention, right? The only thing sorta strange is seeing the she-wolf wearing a bra in an ad for a European audience. Also, I'm with Marshal--the Sept/October shot certainly hasn't hurt my appetite for pasta.

[Hopped up on all the caffeine]

How is it possible that Nov/Dec is not the worst photograph ever made? Did the nipple count elevate it into the second to worst spot?

I say "let's fix it in post!"

[crusher]

i think the woman in the plate spaghetti is far far worse - kind of creepy worms wrapping around the model

[Stupid Photographer]

The more stupid play you and Mike give it, the more you elevate it above what is truly the worst. That is what makes me wanna throw up.

[Marshal]

The spaghetti noodles look like worms? Just looks like spaghetti to me. My problem with the November/December pic is not the nipple count but all the visual clutter to the left & right with all the umbrellas, ladder and other equipment in the back of the trucks. And the black clad assistant at right holding what's probably a long hose, but looks like an eel or snake.

Did Annie take that one too?

[josh c.]

Really all, you can't take one photo from one shoot and start speculating about the downfall of a legend. Annie continues to produce beautifully lit and shot work, so really? Annie is a wonderful force in the field and if others would spend more time developing their careers instead of bashing her, they probably wouldn't feel quite so jealous.

[John]

I haven't looked at the calendar so maybe this is explained there. If so, pardon me. This is supposed to be a take on the she-wolf raising the twins Romulus and Remus who, according to legend, established Rome. The symbol of Rome is an illustration of the she-wolf suckling the twins. But it just looks cheesy. Maybe that's what the client wanted. In any case, I'm sorry to see Annie going down the digital compositing route. Maybe she finds it interesting as a way to solve problems. But the result does not flatter her.

[Ed]

Leibowitz did a splendid job with the Louis Vuitton campaign but it seems that artistic freedom really harms her instead of helping her... Sorry she jumped the shark again (the first one was the Disney campaign), I think the problem is the "celebrity" status once it goes up to the head it all comes down crumbling (Lachapelle is an example of this).

Josh C.: Have you seen the other photos from the calendar? and you are also forgetting the most basic rule, the one that applies to any portfolio, you are judged by your worst photo in your portfolio.

[David]

Yeah the picture is average. But I've seen far worse. It's a bit tacky, but then, most Lavazza images are, and it's not the worst I've seen for a Lavazza ad or calendar bu a long shot.

All the Annie bashing is boring and unprofessional. She's an amazing artist and photographer. Obviously her sex is what bothers this male dominated industry.

Give it up, and that includes you too PDN!

[Walter Briggs]

I find it interesting..and even a bit amusing that Annie is generating so much attention. Latter years of the career, or not, it doesn't hurt! She's doing something right, in my opinion...

[copyright girl]

I'm confused. If she didn't go to Italy for the shoot who shot the background photos and why don't they share the credits?

[barry]

Look, lets give credit where credit is due, Her assistants set it, light it, adjust it, run it out, retouch it and deliver it. She shows up shoots a few files and looks at her iphone.
She's only on set because her agent told her to show up!
Nice...

[Patrick McHugh]

I think it is an idea that did not come together at the end. There is a lot of manipulation. Anyone who works with agencies will tell you the photographer is only part of the final product produced.

[Boxer NYC]

So easy to criticize an enormous talent like Ms. Leibovitz you morons. Let's see one of you take a single image in your entire career's that warrants , debate, speculation, discussion, controversy and just plain print.
Ms. Leibovitz has consistently produced extraordinary and an amazing body of work for decades! Her work not only defines and documents pop culture but goes way beyond. The images of athletes, authors, dancers, world leaders....need I go on.
She has proven herself a million times over what a consummate professional and amazing talent she was, is, and will always be.
So easy to criticize those who succeed.
What is all your problem with this amazing, talented, visionary. Especially PDN! Where do you get off slamming Ms. Leibovitz. Shame on you. She is an inspiration and has raised the standards of imagery so high that very few come close or ever will.

Worst photo? You morons. What about the 10's of thousands BEST photos Ms. Leibovitz has given us. You who criticize so easily are just jealous of your non talent.

Go back to your NY Post's and people magazines. PDN your once very informative and highly regarded trade magazine has turned into a gossip rag.

[JeremyT]

Its actually not the shot itself that's the problem there. Technically there's nothing wrong with it all. Its the post production that is laughable and ridiculous (the retouching and compositing). She won't do this herself, very few photographers at her level do. Its so bad in fact, that its hard to believe that it wasn't done to an unrealistic deadline of some sort.