Julian Lennon has spent much of his life being known as John Lennon’s first son, a 1984 Grammy win for his album “Valotte” and several other solo albums notwithstanding. When Julian Lennon took an interest in photography, it seemed like a refreshing way to step out of a long-looming shadow.
He’d been taking photographs as a hobby when photographer Timothy White saw his work and encouraged Lennon to develop his talents further. The end result is his exhibition, “Timeless,” which is currently on display at the Morrison Hotel Gallery.
“He said, ‘show people another side to you. That you’re not just — although you’ve got a camp of good followers in the music field — there’s still a lot of people that just say you’re John’s son,” Lennon explains of White’s encouragement. “He said, ‘this would be another opportunity to show the real you that your dad never really did get involved with.’ You know, dad was never involved in photography in that sense. Not that that’s the reason why I did it, by any means.”
From there, Lennon took on subjects like his brother Sean. He also got a few sessions with U2. Lennon had been staying in a French chateau that Bono and Co. took over and used as a recording studio.
“I have the same sensibilities, know what they like and don’t like about having their picture taken,” Lennon says. “They don’t want to see the wrinkles or the pudgy belly or the hair sticking out their ears. Nobody wants that. All it takes is a fold in your trousers or your shirt and you look like Quasimodo on crack.”
