CONTRIBUTORS

William Langewiesche

International Correspondent William Langewiesche has written about daring men from pirates to pilots for V.F. In “The Wave-Maker” (page 118), he profiles bigwave surfer Ken Bradshaw. “The impulse to surf giant, deadly waves is fascinating, just like the impulse to climb giant mountains,” says Langewiesche. “Bradshaw lives life with enormous courage and an unusual singlemindedness.” Aloft, a collection of Langewiesche’s writing about flight, is out now from Vintage.

Todd S. Purdum

In “Lrom That Day Lorth” (page 130), national editor Todd S. Purdum reconstructs one of the most exciting episodes in American political history: the events surrounding John F. Kennedy’s inauguration. Even the blinding snowstorm that hit Washington, D.C., could not stop the inevitable enmeshing of showbiz and politics. “Obviously there were serious world events, and the possibility of an immediate nuclear holocaust, but it didn’t stop everyone from not taking themselves too seriously,” Purdum says, adding, “It’s always interesting to hear how much drinking there was.”

Annie Leibovitz

Annie Leibovitz has had breakfast with more than one C.E.O. during her 27 years as V.F.’s principal photographer, but usually not at a McDonald’s drive-through window. That’s where she had an Egg McMuffin with Warren Buffett when she went to Omaha for “Mr. Warren’s Confession” (page 108). Leibovitz was carrying her cameras but no cash, and since Buffett is working on getting rid of his cash—he has pledged to give away 99 percent of his wealth—he picked up the check.

Art Streiber

Nobody was more excited about Art Streiber’s photo shoot with Justin Bieber (“The Kid Just Has It,” page 98) than Streiber’s two teenage daughters. “My 15-year-old, Siena, was at the shoot,” he says. “We needed a pair of sunglasses for one photograph of Justin, so I borrowed Siena’s Ray-Bans. She’s never going to get rid of those glasses, and I’ll probably have to have them mounted in Plexi.” Streiber also shot the other musical wunderkind in this issue, Willow Smith, for the Spotlight on page 123.

Bethany McLean

Amid rampant speculation about Warren Buffett’s possible successor, contributing editor Bethany McLean sat down with the Berkshire Hathaway chairman in Omaha. “He’s such a pleasure to spend time with,” says McLean. “You can spend 11 hours with Warren and he has no shortage of amazing stories about the business world and about life.” McLean’s book All the Devils Are Here, written with Joe Nocera, was published in November.