Nigel Ip

Paul McCartney, Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm at the National Portrait Gallery is a delightful behind-the-scenes tour of The Beatles’ rise to fame from humble beginnings to global superstars through the lens of McCartney’s personal film camera.

Focusing on the period December 1963 – February 1964, the exhibition shows a huge burst of documentary activity as the band travelled between gigs and media appearances, from Liverpool to the USA, capturing the candid faces of individuals who would one day become prominent figures too. I couldn’t recognise a lot of people, but it was lovely seeing older visitors grab each other at the sight of a young Cilla Black.

Part of the appeal is also seeing the original contact sheets. There aren’t many, but the ones on display offer a sense of chronology and storytelling. From candid photos of colleagues backstage or in hotel rooms, to the wild reactions of fans and paparazzi in the streets of Paris and Miami. Even though 60 years has passed, you feel like you’re part of the crew, travelling with them as they performed at the London Palladium and The Ed Sullivan Show.

Some of McCartney’s favourite images were marked with crosses or ticks using a chinagraph pencil. Some of these were silly moments, such as Ringo Starr with a fork to his teeth, or mucking about during a photoshoot. They reflect The Beatles’ cheekiness and you can see that in their American interviews.

While most of the pictures are black and white, the Miami ones are largely in colour. The photojournalistic look suddenly turns into relatable slices of contemporary life, showing the cast and crew swimming at sea and in a private pool, McCartney flinching after having caught a fish (which he later released), and more fans gathered outside hoping to catch a glimpse of them.

This exhibition is a beautiful travelogue. Beatlemania doesn’t get more intimate than this.

Paul McCartney, Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm runs until 1 October 2023 at the National Portarit Gallery, London, https://www.npg.org.uk/