Photographer Run Amok Won't Be Paid By Atlantic

A photographer who bragged about capturing John McCain in an unflattering light, and who duped the presidential candidate into posing for an even less flattering picture will not be paid for her photo, and may find herself the subject of a lawsuit, according to reports.

Jill Greenberg, whose work can be seen online at her site -- somewhat appropriately named "Manipulator" -- originally shot the cover image for Atlantic scribe Jeffrey Goldberg's October cover story, "The Wars Of John McCain." The New York Post describes how the session went down:

Greenberg, known for her heavily retouched pics of apes and babies, boasted to Photo District News that she submitted photos of the Arizona senator to the mag while barely airbrushing them.

"I left his eyes red and his skin looking bad," she boasted.

Greenberg also crowed that she had tricked McCain into standing over a strobe light placed on the floor -- turning the septuagenarian's face into a horror show of shadows.

Asking McCain to "please come over here" for a final shot, Greenberg pretended to be using a standard modeling light.

The resulting photos depict McCain as devilish, with bulging brows and washed-out skin.

"He had no idea he was being lit from below," Greenberg said, adding that none of his entourage picked up on the light switch either. "I guess they're not very sophisticated," she said.

According to the Post, Atlantic editor James Bennet was "appalled" at Greenberg's antics, saying, "Her behavior is outrageous. Incredibly unprofessional."

And, indeed, it is! But Goldberg himself says it best, "Suffice it to say that her 'art' is juvenile, and on occasion repulsive. This is not the issue, of course; the issue is that she betrayed this magazine, and disgraced her profession."

Bennet, who told Fox News that Greenberg "violated the terms of our agreement with her," is drafting a letter of apology to McCain.

NOTE: As has been pointed out to me, drilling down into Greeberg's site will unearth several photo renderings of John McCain that at least one Obama supporter, in an email to me, describes as "childish." It's only too true that the existence of these images is a testament to the photographer's juvenile sensibilities, but they seem to be a matter distinct from the concerns that led the Atlantic to take the actions they have taken.

Comments

[Biotecchie]

Personally - I like the cover photo. When the issue arrived last week, it was highly arresting. I think the picture looks a lot like John McCain. Most of what you see of him on television simply is not with high resolution.

You should take a look at the pictures on her web site... Very interesting. Highly engaging.

The publishers at Atlantic should have known what they were getting into when they contracted with her. Moreover, if they really had objected, they should not have used the photo in the first place.

[jeremyemilio]

They DIDN'T use the photos in question. She shot a straight session and then tricked McCain into taking some others with up-lighting for her own personal jollies (which she then photo-shopped adding, among other things, bloody teeth and monkey poop).

[Twopennygal]

So, at least she was up front about taking and using an unflattering photo of McCain. What about all the other photos from the media that have sought to demonize or otherwise show the candidates in a bad light? It's like the pot calling the kettle black to me...

What was childish to me was her gloating. (tee hee hee, look what I did!)

[deckard70]

None of the articles linked to says she won't be paid. The Atlantic says that they are looking to see if she violated her contract, but, since they ran her photo on the front cover they certainly do need to pay her.

[bigbingtheory]

When will all you lefties out there clinging to the myth that we can win this election by remaining "civil." WAKE UP! Your country needs you. Democracy isn't civil, it's down right rude. Unprofessional? Save that when Mc Cain/Palin begin their first term. Grow a set people. We can not influence public opinion by whining and sniveling about civility.

[ltva]

I find this to be unsettling that a professional photographer would use her political views to interfere with her work. With that said, what does this say about Mccains judgement-couldn't he see that he was being manipulated? This makes me think that he is easily swayed by others; hence the S palin pick for VP.

[bigbingtheory]

if you truly find it unsettling, grow up. Her political views didn't interfere with her work it inspired them. Photographers are supposed to be impartial now? The fact they used the cover and aren't paying her is the real issue, not her unflattering portriature.

[Biotecchie]

I really think that this photo is representative of her work. Look at the other pictures on her web site. Most use this same sort of lighting - to bring out detail. Most capture the subject in highly expressive poses. It is just that McCain's years are showing.

[WasteNJ]

The guy in the picture is the same guy, regardless of the lighting. So it's standard practice to retouch a photo to the point that it's not even the same image?

[SheenaVa]

As far as the picture that showed up on the cover, it isn't really an awful picture of him.
However, the other pic does nothing to help the Obama campaign. This was unprofessional. As a true Obama supporter, we don't need stupid distractions like this. She got her point across, yeah yeah we all know McCain is evil, but I hate to see "our side" stoop to this level.


Obama '08, Can't wait

[westreal]

The pictures are childish but I think the bigger political issue here is that she was portraying a candidate through his policies and personal life. So we get to see him as he's carried himself throughout his life.

Remember the Obama Muslim cover? I was upset by it but like many people argued, it was satire.

[ilovemycat]

Sorry, but a picture doesn't lie.

[Cyn2]

Ok, let me get this straight: The photographer did all these unprofessional things, and yet the photos in question still ran as the cover? Hmmmmm....

As a subscriber to The Atlantic, I have to tell you, I took a second look at this cover and wondered why McCain's face looked like it was covered in baby oil. More than lighting going on here.

[peakness]

That is Jill Greenberg's style, hyper retouched, accentuating the highlight.

[inluvwkeitholbermann]

we're dealing with the worst economic crisis of all times and this makes the news?

[avalanch112]

as a photographer, and an avid obama supporter i have to say that this is really unprofessional. when your getting paid to do a job, personal feelings should never stop you from doing a good job.

[bigbingtheory]

blah blah blah, everyone shut up and be good little sheep. If I could make political statements with my job I'd do it in a heart beat. "unprofessional" spare me.

[peakness]

This story reminds me of the famous portrait by Arnold Newman of Alfried Krupp taken in 1963.
http://www.digitaljournalist.org/issue0312/an01.html

Newman was an American photographer of Jewish descent. He had to photograph Krupp for a Newsweek assignment in Germany. He used lighting and directing tricks to capture Krupp, a close friend of Hitler and a Nazis' sympathizer, and made the famous eerie portrait.

Newman had a close friend, a former assistant by the name of Elizabeth Greenberg. It makes me wonder if she's related to Jill Greenberg.

[allonfla]

Who Cares!!!!!!!!!

[amandab42]

Oh my... "juvenile"... "unprofessional"... give me a break.

As if to be an adult/professional means to function without the least bit of mischievousness.

As if the level of discourse in this country and our politics were anything other than what
Jill Greenberg has been accused of being.

As if the world at large was truly functioning on a level so much higher than that which can
be found in so many high schools all over this country. (Note: I am a teacher.)

As above, so below.

I saw this magazine cover at the newstand today, and as an owner of Greenberg's book
"Monkey Portraits" I recognized her hand immediately. I thought, "Oh, wow, they let Jill
Greenberg shoot McCain's portrait. What a strange choice of photographer?!" Which is
to say, I think of Greenberg as an artist not as a journalist. That she would look for/find a
means to express herself is of little surprise. That she did so bothers me not in the least.
Not because I have cultivated such a low opinion of John McCain, but because THAT IS
WHAT ARTISTS DO!!!

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