The Atlantic’s photog goes ape
Jill Greenberg’s “art:” Craptastic.
The NYPost asked me to write a special column on The Atlantic’s Jill Greenberg photo fiasco. Here’s the intro (link):
When you lie down with Bush-hating photographers, you get up with public-relations nightmares.
So learned The Atlantic magazine after hiring celebrity lenswoman Jill Greenberg to take portrait shots of John McCain.
As The Post reported Sunday, Greenberg gloated to an industry Web site, Photo District News, last week that she had tricked McCain during the magazine photo shoot into standing over a strobe light to create ugly shadows on his face: “He had no idea he was being lit from below,” she sneered. “I guess they’re not very sophisticated.”
Greenberg is Glenn Close to The Atlantic’s Michael Douglas in this real-life, photo-journalistic adaptation of “Fatal Attraction.” And her McCain imagery was the rabbit in the deranged Greenberg’s boiling pot. “I left his eyes red and his skin looking bad,” she cackled.
And that’s not all. She took the pictures she captured for The Atlantic and defaced them on her own personal Web site with crude, vulgar captions and Photoshopping. One featured McCain with fangs and blood dripping down his mouth – with the Greenberg-added words, “I am a bloodthirsty warmongerer (sic).”
Another piece of her “art” showed an ape (a favorite Greenberg subject) defecating on McCain’s head. Because, you know, manipulating images of animals relieving themselves on political candidates you hate is the sophisticated way of expressing disapproval.
Next time: Google the photog first.
That advice goes not just to the media outlets, but to the McCain camp, too.
***
The Atlantic’s editorial note on the fiasco is here. They don’t seem to get that vetting a nutjob like Greenberg is not simply a matter of vetting her “politics.” It’s about vetting her insanity and complete lack of professional ethics. They didn’t do due diligence, period. I repeat: They shouldn’t be suing anyone.
***
Background:
PDNPulse
Photo Business Forum
Newsbusters
American Digest
The Atlantic should have Googled Jill Greenberg before hiring her
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Categories: John McCain,Unhinged
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Wow. You almost never see McCain, Obam-uh and Biden photographed together.
My eyes!
Can we have a little content warning, please? Don’t want to stumble over that at work…
nice to see ya, see-dub. good suggestion. i’ll add.
Not to blame the victim here, but McCain really should fire his media coordinator. Walking into that photoshoot with that woman was immensely stupid.
He (and his campaign) need to stop acting like his adversaries merely have a civil disagreement with him.
The days of Tip O’Neil and Ronald Reagan having a beer after a healthy debate over public policy are long, long gone.
The collectivists are out to destroy the last vestiges of freedom in this country “for the public good.” Throughout history they have murdered millions upon millions in this “public good” cause.
What’s photographic integrity in comparison to that?
I am daily more convinced that the Left has recognized the futility of the Obama campaign. When the crazies want to dump their man they actually do it by going berserk against the opposition creating a sympathy backlash that is positively Rove-ian in outcome. I have never been a big McCain fan but I guess I prefer the possibility of Republican gains in congress and other possible benefits of a McCain presidency than Obama’s likely pervert presidency.
The main problem with incidents such as this is they get very little press.
Individually they really don’t amount to much and appear as just the occasional nut case doing something childish and stupid. But if all the things that are said and done about Republicans, McCain/Palin specifically were to be cataloged and publisized on a regular basis it would show exactly how far off the deep end the left, as a whole has gone. Give the general public a chance to see the volume of disgusting things that are put out on a regular basis.
Much like when the public saw the pile on attack by the general media and the dems on Palin, I believe public opinion would swing even farther to McCain/Palin.
No need for attack ads,just repeat back everything the left says, they’ll hang themselves.
Good to see See-dubya stop by.
Even with the content warning, I clicked. Good Greif! And this is art?
The only way to get any media traction from this would be to photoshop the “One” into the pic. But that would be racist! Can’t have that, dontcha know!
Now how do I get this image out of my head?
Sorry, no way you can convince me the Atlantic didn’t know EXACTLY who they were hiring. It’s not like they stumbled upon her name in the yellow pages. She’s built a name for herself being controversial. Whoever was in the position to hire her knew about her past work.
They’re not shocked that she expresses herself in such extreme, vulgar ways. They’re shocked that she is so deranged and selfish that she would be willing to drag them down with her to make her point. They thought that since they were giving her an opportunity to be published in a “serious” mainstream publication she would play by the rules. Hahahahahaha….gotcha!
And anyone with eyes could see that wasn’t a flattering picture of McCain. If they were trying to be so “respectful” as they claim on their web site, they would have had the photos reshot by another photog or at the very least had someone in their prepress department soften the lines in Photoshop.
Ya make your bed….
Have you ever noticed that the left has thing about body functions.
I assume Obama is the ape???
Then who is the racist???
Well it could’ve been worse. It could’ve been a guerilla.
That’s because they’re all full of it!
DCM
Funny, but using Google, I can’t seem to find a face to go with the name (Greenberg’s) even on her website.
Consider yourself lucky.
The lunatics on the left are doing an excellent job campaigning for McCain/Palin. I hope they keep up the good work.
What I’m wondeing is if Palin will have a moose head installed at the White House.
ex-expat,
Could this be her?
http://www.olaphoto.com/o-photo,jill,greenberg.html
Since the left can’t dazzle us with their brilliance, they will bury us in bullsh*t. How mature!
On September 16th, 2008 at 7:17 am, gayle said
I assume Obama is the ape???
Then who is the racist???
BIDEN is the ape…
Are you sure these photo’s wern’t done by a group of 8 year old boys with to much time on their hands?
Disagree. Victory comes to those who take the fight to the enemy, not to those who wait for the enemy to come.
The Atlantic should know that if you lie down with chimps you’re gonna get fleas.
That’s because they have never progressed beyond the mental capacity of two year olds.
Can’t wait for the temper tantrums in November, when Obama loses due to their insanity.
On the left or right?
The one on the left looks like Klaus Nomi’s little sister.
What’s with the greasy, Photoshopped style she employs? Is that what passes for “art” in liberal circles? I agree with the others here, by their own hysteria the Left will hang candidate Obama. Keep it up morons you’re doing a great job.
Liberals.
No, Saint Louis Blue, that’s no her. If you go to her site, and don’t leave immediately because of the front shot, and click on her “BIO & PRESS” link, there will be a series of photos at the bottom of the page. Number 2 and 33 have her identified in the pictures. Sorry, won’t provide the link to her site, since I don’t want to give her traffic. Warning , the site is massively flash heavy, so it takes time to load.
–Cheers!
no her = not her. Wow, I suck. I think I need my afternoon cup of coffee. Off to my bolangerie for a pain au chocolat and a nice renverse. Ciao for now!
Shades of an Obama administration.
They probably did Google her. As a member of the MSM, they consider her a great friend.
If it was the National Review, Human Events, or American Spectator, they probably wouldn’t have gotten the time of day from the McCainites.
This “photo-hog” is just another mean-spirited elitist liberal entertainer. They share DNA with other notable self-important types: Hollywood stars, TV entertainers, media personalities, “intellectuals” and the like. They rationalize their antics claiming to “tell the truth” and “by bringing intangible concepts into focus through art and literature.” Hmmm?
Simian defecation onto someone’s head is definitely a well thought-out effort to demonstrate the general regression of public discourse, yet another crowning achievement in the Atlantic’s death spiral to toilet-tissue quality reading. It’s oddly appropriate in a delightful sort of way. The Atlantic is obviously aiming for a target demographic of hateful primates who, this time, are outside the cages and throwing feces at anyone who disagrees with them.
This is an excellant depiction of what will happen to the McCain Administation when dealing with Congress. Mr. McCain better get used to it. The happy times with his lib friends are over.
If they sue, it will just be for show. The AM knew exactly what it was doing and behind closed doors everyone is high-fiving and laughing themselves silly. Once again a Republican was made a fool of which I guess would be an accomplishment of sorts if it weren’t so easy to do.
And what do McCain’s media people have to say for themselves? This is inexcusable. I could well imagine them saying, “Well, we knew she wasn’t a right-winger so we figured she would do a good job . . .”
Good grief. This woman is completely unhinged. What a sad, little person.
She’s a fine example of the unhinged left. She just does, and says what all liberals really think. The abuse of the crying babies really makes me sick. It’s too early in the morning for monkey ca-ca picks! Lol. Did the Obama Campaign approve this message?
But remember, Janeane Garofalo scolded us on Bill Mahr’s show saying that the Democratic party is inherently more decent than us lowly conservatives. When asked if conservatives should be put in jail, se said that it was a good idea.
These photos speak to their idea of “Decency”
(Pulling up alongside Greenberg)
Right turn, Clyde!
And I thought the bird pooping on a candidate in an ad was bad. Seems tame to me now.
Since the left side does not want to grow up, let’s just let the adults take over Washington DC now. Cut out this middle stuff of pseudo-electioneering and get to WORK !!
Where’s PETA? Why haven’t they weighed in on this? This is obvious animal abuse! Talk about your Kodak moments!
I do believe this woman has a hole in her soul…
And lacks creativity.
the gang of ten are ready to give O the election, by voting for minimal drilling….get on the phone, fax, etc. corker, graham, chabliss are three of the five….ace has story.
That would explain how such an obvious blunder occurred. Hopefully President McCain’s camp has learned from this and won’t let it repeat once they assume the White House.
Phony issue. Atlantic did not publish a disrespectful picture of McCain.
The photoshop of a gorilla defecating on McCain is, to put is ever so mildly, in poor taste. It does not, to put it ever so mildly, enhance the stature of this blog.
Real issue: McCain continues to lie about Palin’s record on earmarks. Even Mitt Romney is on tape calling McCain a liar.
LITTLEGIRLIEMAN,
youdo not enhance the stature of this blog…#40 and yeat another pathetic deflection attempt…
(The McCain/ape pic is actually misleasding, it’s Obama’s people are becoming real SH#$TGOALIES in this! HA! Incoming!)
+1
Take that, Michelle, from lgm…he will now tell you the issues to address in your very own blog!
Aren’t we lucky?! I’m so excited! Can you tell I’m excited?
Michelle, I appreciate your last couple of paragraphs in the NY Post article. Some of us, me included do believe the Atlantic Monthly knew what they were doing when they hired Greenberg. (As for McCain’s camp’s due diligence, I say, keep McCain out of this, it’s about the Atlantic Monthly’s actions.)
As for the entertainment factor of this photographer’s work, I believe it appeals to the young audience (not all; most of the young commentors here are quite mature – they ‘get it’.). Carefree youth on the other hand enjoy this kind of thing. Obama’s strength is in those kids who are old enough to vote but not mature enough to know the importance of objective journalism and what is at stake in this election. Carefree youth who love the outrageous and are somewhat fearful of what it will be like to have to make it on their own when they get…euww old. Maybe the Atlantic Monthly was going after this demographic…
As long as the seething, venemous hatred of the psychotic Left continues to seep through the *filters* of the Idiot Media, then McCain/Palin have a chance, because just enough of the public might see through it and have the brains to not vote for OBummer.
But if the filters hold, and stupidity reigns, then McCain/Palin are toast.
Alas, it has been “reigning” stupidity for decades now, and the forecast is for continued stupidity for at least the next 7 weeks.
I read where Lynn Cheney said this morning that Obama knew what he was doing with the “lipstick” remark, that he was surreptitiously referring it to Vice President Palin.
From Ayers to Wright to “3AM,” B. HUSSEIN Obama just doesn’t know when to admit the truth. He is unfit to be an American President.
That’s immoral and disgusting. I’m sorry I had to see that, everyone, but that’s kind of day I’m having.
Again, this is coming from the party that is inherently the most “Decent”.
This speaks a lot about their decency.
Phony issue, huh LGM?
I guess it is easy to say that anything which illuminates the intellectual vacancy of your own side is phony.
Sure, we’ve had our fun with Obama’s campaign posters, slogans, and even his wonderful ears. But for crying out loud, man, this is absolutely absurd. There really is no comparison.
And, BTW, the issue is still the intellectual vacancy and complete moral depravity that is the American Left.
I used to love reading The Atlantic back in the ’80s and early ’90s. Then, like many parents, I gave up leisurely weekend mornings spent catching up on my reading (substituting soccer games, scout events, etc).
It’s sad to see The Atlantic diminished by their bad editorial judgements. First the ever-more-unhinged Andrew Sullivan; now this photographer.
I still keep tabs on the New Criterion; it’s nice to see that some publications still have high intellectual standards.
lgm said:
Jill Greenberg has effectively symbolized how the leftist media, from the youngest ‘Daily Kossette’ to the most seasoned of NY Times editorial writers, subconsciously feels about those who politically disagree with them.
Anyone who dismisses this open and honest display of liberal angst is either ignoring the fact that “a picture is worth a thousand words,” or is running scared from internal revelation.
So you people think photoshopping poop is a sensible way to have a political discussion.
You think that a photographer doing something on the side shows that the magazine is biased. It would be more convincing, to put it most mildly, to come up with an actual instance of bias in the magazine.
You think the possibility of a magazine, which is not running for President, being biased is more important than the honesty of the candidates themselves?
If you want to support McCain, post the daily lies from the Obama camp. Bring up the items he claimed to veto even though he doesn’t have a veto. Talk about his lack of understanding even of the economy of his home state. Compare the Obama and McCain tax proposals and health care plans. See, I think you don’t do this because you can’t.
That picture really does tell a story, doesn’t it?
McCain represents American values, and the chimp represents the liberal-socialists utter disregard for those same values, and the absence of decorum in their everyday communication with sane people.
Isn’t it time we got this monkey off our backs?
lol. you funny.
I’ve said that Photoshop fun with people you don’t like is the visual equivalent to saying, “You’re a poopy-head!”
People’s Exhibit A: The photo in question.
People’s Exhibit B:
Q.E.D. The prosecution rests.
“When you ain’t got nuthin,
You got nuthin to lose.”
– Bob Dylan’s epitaph for the American Left
It is not so much that it is a horrible thing to do as much as it is just a CLASSLESS thing to do.
right_on, I have a different take…
The lefties have a penchant for depicting politicians as monkeys. Consider all the “Bush = chimp” depictions we’ve seen, where the chimp is often clownish, child-like, weak, and not very bright.
Greenberg’s chimp (chimp 2.0?), on the other hand, is her Obama, a strong, dominating monkey, vanquishing and humiliating his opponent.
But I can’t believe she’s depicting Obama as a monkey!
..and they complained that he “Obama Waffles” box was racist! Sheesh!
But seriously, it’s amazing that this disgusting garbage masquerades as legitimate political discourse on the left.
here ya go, lgm:
Obama’s ‘health care’ plan=taking $$ from me (out of which I pay my own health care costs, mind you)and using said $$ to give someone else (who doesn’t work, or doesn’t want to pay for his/her healthcare) so that person can get it ‘free’!
To paraphrase Mr. Potter from ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’—–’do I paint an accurate picture, or do I exaggerate?’
restlessindependent-
Actually, I have very little regard for the intelligence of liberal artists. They have no interest in portraying quality traits in their “work” when it involves a subject of a political nature. They always fall back on the lowest common denominator, filth and vulgarity, to communicate their message.
Their intent is twofold; first, enrage and riducule their ethical opposites, and second, elicit support for hatred from their allies.
This, in my opinion, is not art…it’s hate speech. Intent is everything!
And lgm, as far as Obama’s tax plan goes, his “neighborliness” is nothing but income redistribution through class warfare.
From the Boston Globe today, not exactly a bastion of conservatism, we get Seeing through Obamanomics
Have a nice day.
The McCain camp needs to publish those photos in a brand new ad campaign and hammer home the point that the Left is all out of points! Most right (as in sane) thinking people will understand that.
Shock-jock style artists have been around for a long time. I went to the photographer’s web site and frankly wasn’t impressed. Her photoshopped images are just a slightly more advanced form of drawing moustaches on posters.
Her so-called artistic vision is small and derivative.
Atlantic Monthly probably figures any attention is good for business.IMHO.
Taking a look at the photo, it appears that Obama finally grew a pair.
Look. Two conservatives who can discuss issues (goldwater, not so much)! Rather than argue with them, I just point out that if McCain said these things, he would be polling in the single digits. This is why his campaign is not on issues.
wighttrasch said (#61):
restlessindependent said (#63):
And just who would be doing that? the ones responsible are in the tank for Obama and helping to spread all the slander, libel and rumors. Who does that leave?
This woman is not healthy.
I see LGM is still confused.
lgm is, like his postings,idiotic and irrelevant.
Gee, I remember recently, on another thread, that some of our resident libs discussed how creative and artistic their fellow leftists are. I’m wondering what they think of this woman. Is this art? Obviously, she’s one of your best and brightest. I hope you’re proud.
And to say this isn’t an issue is BS. This woman admitted to photographing McCain in a very unflattering way, on purpose, and those photos are in the magazine, not just on her website.
Maybe they will have a powerpoint presentation, featuring these lovely pics, running behind Barbra as she sings at the fundraiser. I’m sure many in the audience will approve.
I may not know art, but I know sh*t when I see it.
Yup ..the Political Chinese Finger Puzzle…I want the democrats to keep on being unhinged…then McCain/Palin can just run out the clock to victory…thanks to the dems.
Imagine: a world where Democrat passion helps conservative after conservative achieve office and real change…aaaahhhhh!
I subsribe to Texas Monthly magazine and I just recieved my monthly email update regarding the October issue, imagine my surprise when I saw this:
Contributor of the Month
JILL GREENBERG: Note Jill Greenberg’s reaction to this month’s cover: “You finally asked me to shoot a hot guy! The other time you asked, it was to shoot a dog named Reveille!” Ah, the vagaries of being a photographer—though the Beverly Hills–based Greenberg is as talented as they come, working with A-list celebrities (Tina Fey and LeBron James) for top-flight publications (Wired and Outside). Always the pro, Greenberg sets high standards for herself. “I would have loved to get McConaughey to take his shirt off,” she says. “It was a travesty that I couldn’t coax him into doing that.”
(the photo shoot was with Matthew McConnaughy.)
When you click on “Beverly Hill based Greenberg” it takes you to her website and the McCain pictures pop up.
I strongly encourage my fellow Texans who subsribe to this magazine to let Mr. Evan Smith know you are not pleased with their association with this woman and hope that they reconsider any further projects with her. I certainly did!
roar@texasmonthly.com
I just went to the Texas Monthly Magazine website. You can no longer link to Jill Greenberg’s website when you click on the the line “Beverly Hills-based Greenberg”. Maybe they got the message!