Legendary portrait photographer Annie Leibovitz first met John Lennon in the early 1970s, when she was just starting to work for Rolling Stone Magazine.
It took her ten years to land a shoot with Lennon which took place on December 8, 1980.
The plan was to shoot Lennon and Yoko Ono nude, but at the last minute, Yoko was uncomfortable posing nude and decided to remain clothed.
Lennon cuddled up against Yoko in a fetal position, hugging the clothed Yoko Ono.
Perhaps what this photograph depicted was that Lennon was naked without Ono. All he needed was her love.
Yoko would go on to be naked without John.
Later that day, John Lennon walked through the arches of his apartment building, the Dakota, and was shot.
Although the photo shoot was ten years in the making, Leibovitz’s famous shot was not how she artistically planned to take it. Nevertheless, it was the last photograph of Lennon and the timing made it iconic.
Right up until his death, Lennon shared with the world that all you need is love, and through the photo we remember his words.
Beautiful thought beautiful photo
Beautiful 😻