“By the time I took this picture (for This Year’s Model, Elvis Costello’s second album, released in 1978) I had already photographed Elvis a dozen or more times. As his career took off I watched his confidence in front of the camera grow. In those days every single had a picture sleeve, so by the time this album came, we had done several sleeves together and Elvis was relaxed when working with me. Apart from my assistant, there were just the two of us. The concept of him behind a camera for the sleeve of This Year’s Model had already been chosen, so I decided to equip Elvis with exactly the same tripod and camera as I was using to create a ‘mirror’ for him.
Alongside a powerful stereo I kept a large record collection at my Camden Studio, and artists would choose music they enjoyed or were interested in for their sessions. Just as we were about to start shooting, Elvis asked me if I had Hotel California by The Eagles, and could I play it? I was puzzled by his choice – until he told me that he loathed the record, but wanted to look really pissed off and angry in the shots! We played the record several times during the session and whilst I directed him, I was also aware of his copying some of my own actions as I took the photographs. This picture was only recently discovered, and is the next frame to one used for the album sleeve. It has never been published before.” Chris Gabrin
