Quick Rise To Top For Beatles’ Photographer

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31985, 12 May 1969, Page 15

Quick Rise To Top For Beatles’ Photographer

” (By CAROLS LYDERS) LONDON. Two years ago, John Kelly was just another photography student at the Blackpool College of Art. Today at 23 he is fast making his mark as one of London’s bright young photographic talents.

His work has appeared in most of the national papers, top magazines such as “Queen,” .“Nova,” “Flair,” and “Fashion” and he was the man the Beatles asked to do the photographs for their new album.

Sitting over a cup of coffee in his Pimlico studio, the same one that Anthony Arm-strong-Jones used before he became Lord Snowdon, John said: “I’ve been lucky.” He left school at 16 and went to work in an advertising studio. “I started right at the bottom making the tea. It was frustrating but I did absorb a lot without realising it,” he said. Art Scholarshitp Although he wanted to be an artist and won an art college scholarship in Wor-

cester, John didn’t think he was good enough and by the time he left school at 16, he was thinking in terms of photography. For three years he did week-end work for a local newspaper then he saw advertised a course in photography and art offered by the Institute of Incorporated Photographers at several colleges in England.

Not having O level English nearly grounded him, but Blackpool offered him a place, which he accepted. “1 was given a pretty free hand. As long as 1 completed certain set exercises I was allowed to go ahead and do as I wanted. So I spent most of my time in Liverpool,” he said. Here John wandered all over the city shooting slums, in Salvation Army hostels, observing how people in all walks of life lived, gathering material for-an exhibition. “The exhibition proved to me that I was good in relation to my area but I wanted to know if I was good in relation to London," John said. So he tossed his work into the roof-rack of his car and drove off to Fleet Street He was advised to show bis pictures to “London Life.” Job Offered “I went in and was offered a job. 1 really only wanted an opinion as 1 still had a few months of my course to do, so I said I’d better think about it and went, back to Blackpool.' John decided to give himself and London a go. The directors of the college agreed to release him and that was that.

He enjoyed the work on “London Life" but wanted to branch out frpm the “in” and “trendy” gnfap. Freelance feature work with Associated Newspapers and partnership with Jeremy Banks came next , Then about a year ago, John set about looking for a studio and through a friend was able to get Lord Snowdon’s former studio.

Like Lord Snowdon, John lives on the premises. But' apart from the circular staircase it is doubtful if Lord Snowdon would recognise his former home.

The Victorian furnishings have gone and the main ornaments are John's collection of toys. “I never had many as a child, so 1 like to have them around now,” he said. John first got to know the Beatles about a year ago. He had done some work for publicity man Tony Barrow. "I did unknown groups at first, then came people, like Cilla Black, the Cream and the Beatles. I was asked to do the still for “Magical Mystery Tour.” • They liked it and asked me to do a lot of work for the new album; John has no wish to be known as the Beatles’ photographer. His portfolio includes studies of Brigitte Bardot, Joanna Pettit, and Julie Christie as well as top fashion photography. Ultimately he hopes to specialise in films.