by
Annie Leibovitz
by
Michael Cina
I acquired two copies of the book in the late 90s with a specific vision in mind—a canvas for crafting a sketchbook. Yet, at the outset of this venture, my vision remained uncalibrated, resulting in pages that meandered away from the overarching aesthetic and vision I had for it. I was still in the process of uncovering what resonated and what did not.
It wasn't until around 2008, amidst a resurgence of my regular painting practice, that I revisited its pages. This reconnection breathed new life into the possibilities and pathways for engaging with the photographs contained within. It also opened the door to exploring novel ways of adapting and reimagining these images.
At the time I began this journey, I hadn't encountered anyone else pursuing this kind of work. This book became a prized piece in the mosaic of my creative process, a light that illuminated solutions later employed in my artistic endeavors.