Photographer says Scots swagger got him through 3 childhood flits.. and right to top of his profession
rebuilt their relationship when he had to return to live at home.
Rankin said: “I didn’t take any photographs till I was about 20 not because I didn’t want to, I just didn’t have any connection to that type of stuff at all. My first camera was a Ricoh.”
“I had to move back home, and it was really difficult but my dad came to the end-of-year show and had a massive smile on his face and he said, ‘You’re either going to do really well or you’re going to fail miserably’.” smile, not everyone likes the end product. Rankin reckoned Bowie didn’t like his photograph of the singer in a vest, grinning rather manically.
He said: “He was amazing. He was really enthusiastic and super cool. I don’t think he loved my picture of him but he always let me use it and I always respected that.”
As for his favourite Scot, it would be former prime minister Brown.
Rankin said: “He was one of my favourite people to photograph ever. He was funny, charming and a really cool dude. I totally felt and believed what he was saying to me.”
Rankin has now been working for 30 years and has diversified from photography into film, the online world and magazines.
While the snapper, who lives in London with his second wife Tuuli, hasn’t stayed in Scotland for most of his life, he is seriously thinking of returning if Brexit goes ahead.
His son Lyle, now in his early 20s, went to Glasgow School of Art for a year and Rankin always tries to shoot north of the Border if he can.
And he added: “I love Scotland. I might have to buy a house in Scotland so I can keep my EU passport if things carry on the way they are going.”
He claims Brexit is a “s*** show” and is affecting his work opportunities. He took the photograph to promote a People’s Vote and thinks there’s still time for a vote to reverse the UK’s withdrawal.
He said: “I just morally think it’s the right thing to do. We were all conned by a bunch of rich bigots, who are only thinking of themselves.”
And while he doesn’t want Scotland to split with England, his view could change if Brexit goes ahead.
He said: “I’d like us to be complete as I really believe in the EU as a group of nations, and coming together as a group of nations.
“But if we leave the EU, then I think Scotland should reconsider.”