Rankin: the Artist
John Rankin Waddell
John Rankin Waddell, better known under his working title Rankin, is one of the world’s leading portrait and fashion photographers. His subjects have included Kylie Minogue, Kate Moss and Queen Elizabeth II. With a vastly expansive portfolio career filled with portraits, advertising campaign and fashion photography, the growing reputation of Rankin as a photographer seems unstoppable. He currently lives in King's Cross, central London, with his ten-year-old son Lyle (Biography 2005).
Early Years
Rankin was born in 1966 in Paisley, Glasgow, as John Rankin Waddell. His high school directed him into accounting but he soon realised this was not his calling in life. In a 2002 interview with The Independent, Rankin explains that his first year of study changed his perspective on what he wanted to do: "I realised I was narrow-minded, that my parents had sheltered me a bit... I lost interest in accountancy and decided to be a photographer." (Rankin in Cripps 2002). With his newfound interest in photography, Rankin put together a portfolio and was accepted into the London College of Printing. It was whilst undertaking his degree in photography that Rankin met his future colleague Jefferson Hack. Together they produced the college magazine Succession. After his time at the London College of Printing, Rankin took a year out to work for the student union. In this time he continued to work on and produce Succession as well as delving into freelance work designing flyers and shooting amateur portraits.
Creative Products and People
Rankin's 'big break' came 1992 when he and Hack co-founded British style mag Dazed & Confused. Still considered to be at the forefront of popular culture, D&C focuses on youth based trends within music, art, fashion, film and literature. "Dazed & Confused was always about creating our own magazine, and then giving others a platform, letting them work for us...We helped others. We loved ideas. We loved life. We were young and
John Rankin Waddell, better known under his working title Rankin, is one of the world’s leading portrait and fashion photographers. His subjects have included Kylie Minogue, Kate Moss and Queen Elizabeth II. With a vastly expansive portfolio career filled with portraits, advertising campaign and fashion photography, the growing reputation of Rankin as a photographer seems unstoppable. He currently lives in King's Cross, central London, with his ten-year-old son Lyle (Biography 2005).
Early Years
Rankin was born in 1966 in Paisley, Glasgow, as John Rankin Waddell. His high school directed him into accounting but he soon realised this was not his calling in life. In a 2002 interview with The Independent, Rankin explains that his first year of study changed his perspective on what he wanted to do: "I realised I was narrow-minded, that my parents had sheltered me a bit... I lost interest in accountancy and decided to be a photographer." (Rankin in Cripps 2002). With his newfound interest in photography, Rankin put together a portfolio and was accepted into the London College of Printing. It was whilst undertaking his degree in photography that Rankin met his future colleague Jefferson Hack. Together they produced the college magazine Succession. After his time at the London College of Printing, Rankin took a year out to work for the student union. In this time he continued to work on and produce Succession as well as delving into freelance work designing flyers and shooting amateur portraits.
Creative Products and People
Rankin's 'big break' came 1992 when he and Hack co-founded British style mag Dazed & Confused. Still considered to be at the forefront of popular culture, D&C focuses on youth based trends within music, art, fashion, film and literature. "Dazed & Confused was always about creating our own magazine, and then giving others a platform, letting them work for us...We helped others. We loved ideas. We loved life. We were young and