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Elton John’s photo trove displays beauty in black and white

A Tate member of staff poses in front of a wall of photographs at the press view of "The Radical Eye: Modernist Photography from the Sir Elton John Collection" exhibition at the Tate Modern gallery in London, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016. British musician Elton John's collection of international modernist photography from the 1920s to 50s includes almost 200 prints and opens to the public on November 10. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
A Tate member of staff poses in front of a wall of photographs at the press view of "The Radical Eye: Modernist Photography from the Sir Elton John Collection" exhibition at the Tate Modern gallery in London, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016. British musician Elton John's collection of international modernist photography from the 1920s to 50s includes almost 200 prints and opens to the public on November 10. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

By Associated Press 1 min read

LONDON (AP) – He’s one of the most colorful figures in rock ‘n’ roll, but when it comes to photography, Elton John embraces black and white.

Scores of vintage images from the musician’s collection are on display in “The Radical Eye,” an exhibition opening this week at London’s Tate Modern. The show displays photos that usually line the walls of John’s 18,000 square foot (1,670 square meter) Atlanta apartment and other homes.

If stark black and white seems too plain a palette for a musician famed for outrageous outfits and love of luxury, fear not – there is flamboyance, playfulness and pizazz aplenty in the show.

John began buying photographs after he quit drinking in 1990. He says he replaced alcohol with “a much healthier addiction” that has seen him amass 8,000 images.