To continue with the Beatles, I realize most major news agencies are reporting on the 40th anniversary of their Abbey Road photo shoot. Here’s a direct quote from
The Seoul Times describing the creative process. I have also included additional links referring to the magnitude of this event and even an interesting myth surrounding this legendary album cover.
“Paul McCartney has given a sketch to the photographer Iain Macmillan. It shows what appears to be an aerial view of the road and the crossing – a suggestion, using dots, that the four Beatles can be photographed walking symmetrically across the crossing.
As the morning progresses the four Beatles make their way to the recording studios. Recording usually starts at about two in the afternoon- often going into the early morning. The photo shoot will happen earlier. There will be less people on the street, less likelihood of fans disturbing events.
The Beatles have been holed up in the recording studio for weeks . It has been a busy week. They have been working diligently. A quick photo shoot will solve the problem of the album cover, allowing them to enjoy some free time before returning to the studios.
Iain Macmillan is a friend of John Lennon’s and Yoko Ono’s and is a professional photographer who has been pulled quickly into the photo session. He has been responsible for photographing the catalogue to a recent Yoko Ono exhibition.
He arrives with a step ladder, late in the morning, and with some assistance from police, begins to direct the Beatles in a series of six photographs, one that will become the famous album cover.
In a couple of photographs the Beatles walk from both directions and are out of step. Cars turn into frame and there is one photograph of a London bus moving towards the crossing. Paul McCartney removes his shoes for four photographs. The day is getting warmer. In the fifth photograph there is nice symmetry. This will be the photo chosen for the front cover”.
It Was 40 years Ago Today, NY Times