Vogue recently hired famous photographer Annie Leibovitz to take photos of the United States Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. As perhaps we could have expected after those Simone Biles photos, people were all over Leibovitz over “poorly lit” images. Many have criticized the photographer over the “poor” lighting of Jackson’s brown skin. Some attempted to “fix” the photos and relight them. And some went as far as claiming that Leibovitz should not be allowed to photograph Black people.
The backlash started when Leibovitz posted the photos she took for Vogue to her Twitter.
As it usually happens on Twitter, people started whining about them and about Leibovitz being “unable to light dark skin properly.” Some of them wondered why Vogue still hired the photographer, claiming that she should be banned from photographing Black people and a Black person should be hired instead. I was honestly surprised with how much anger some of these tweets contain.
Some folks rushed to “fix” Leibovitz’s photos and prove that they know better. Some used Lightroom, and others only apps on their phones. They honestly reminded me of those people in college who always had poor grades in certain subjects yet claimed that “they knew the subject better than professors.”
— Colin T is ManiacalV 😻😸 (@ManiacalV) August 17, 2022
I have nothing against critically observing someone’s work, even if they’re an acclaimed photographer like Annie Leibovitz. No one knows everything and everyone has some great work, and some less great. I personally don’t particularly like these photos, but knowing Leibovitz’s style, I’m pretty sure that the lighting and the somewhat gloomy mood were intentional. However, I am bothered by angry internet warriors who don’t seem to own the power of critical thinking nor they know the photographer’s earlier work. It bothers me that people take their personal opinions as facts and treat them that way. And oh boy, am I bothered and frightened by so much boiling anger. You may like something or not, but you can still stay civilized and have a normal discussion. I know, I know: I am not a Black person and I can’t understand the struggle they’ve been through. I live in a totally different culture and very far from the US. But this is why I will finish this off with words from a Black photographer who commented on the Simone Biles story here on DIYP: [via PetaPixel] Speaking as a black photographer, however, I wish to categorically disagree with those who express the view that the job should automatically be given to a black photographer. I would feel less than honoured if that were to be the only (or even the main) criterion on which I’m chosen for an assignment such as this. Just saying.”
