1980年11月,二人剛完成新專輯《Double Fantasy》,因此接受雜誌訪問及拍攝,12月8日,身為雜誌首席攝影師的Annie來到二人在紐約的住所,原本Leibovitz只想拍攝Lennon一人,但他堅持小野洋子也要出現在封面上,Leibovitz想起二人1968年推出的實驗性專輯《Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins》的赤裸照片(專輯封底照片曾刊登在1968年《Rolling Stone》雜誌封面),於是提出全裸的建議。
不幸的是,五小時後,Lennon在公寓前遭受瘋狂歌迷Mark David Chapman槍殺身亡,而這張在2005年被美國雜誌協會(American Society of Magazine Editors)評為過去四十年最佳雜誌封面的相片,也成為John Lennon的最後公開照片。至於最後被拍攝到的照片,則出自歌迷Paul Goresh之手,他在Lennon離開寓所時曾拍攝到Lennon為兇手Chapman簽名,為這個舉世震驚的消息再添悲劇意味。
41 years ago today, John Lennon was shot to death by a crazy fan in front of his apartment in New York. One of Annie Leibovitz‘s most widely known images was also photographed on that day. John Lennon and Yoko Ono had just finished their new album "Double Fantasy," and Annie Leibovitz, the chief photographer of Rolling Stone Magazine, came to their apartment for the interview portrait. Annie planned to photograph Lennon alone, but he hoped that Yoko Ono would appear on the cover.
Annie suggested photographing them naked as she remembered their nude image in the 1968 album "Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins" (the photo was published on "Rolling Stone" magazine Cover). Yoko refused the suggestion and could only accept the removal of her shirt. Annie was initially disappointed, so she let Yoko maintain her original look. Meanwhile, Lennon removed all his clothes, curled up, and hugged Yoko.
When Annie saw Lennon kissing Yoko Ono, she quickly pressed the shutter. The three were satisfied with the Polaroid, and Lennon said it captured their relationship. Unfortunately, Lennon was shot and killed by a fan Mark David Chapman in front of his apartment five hours later. The portrait, which was named the best magazine cover of the past four decades by the American Society of Magazine Editors in 2005, became his most memorable photograph. Lennon's last photos were taken by his fan Paul Goresh on the same day, who photographed Lennon signing for the murderer before leaving the apartment, adding tragic sentiments to this shocking news.