The world according to Rankin

DT01

DT01

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In February's Professional Photographer magazine, one John Rankin Waddell is quoted as saying,

'It's like Bryan Adams taking photographs, it's a f***ing joke! Someone once asked me, 'what are Bryan Adam's photographs like?' and I said, 'they're probably nearly as good as his music. For me, he's not a real photographer - a photographer goes to college, learns their craft, reads books, learns their sh!t. I'm not a mediocre photographer, there's nothing mediocre about me.'

In the same interview, he also said, 'I would hate for people to think I'm arrogant!'

Discuss!

For reference: Here is some of Mr Adams' work: http://trendland.com/bryan-adams-from-rocker-to-photographer/#
 
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see where Rankin is coming from, I dont even like Bryan Adams music :D
seen it before, a celebrity decides to "become a photographer"
 
If the photographs produced by the celebrity are good and you like them why does it matter who there are or what they have studied.
They are just someone taking photos and whether then have such a strong understanding as the likes of Rankin is irrelevant, all that matters is the final image.
 
POAH said:
how can you take what he says seriously when he sprouts pish like that. The background of the person is irrelevant to the final photo.
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Who said I take him seriously?! The fact that he's getting pages of coverage in an industry publication means that someone takes him seriously. I agree totally with your point about the background of the person and the output. As far as I know, Bryan Adams has been taking pictures 'seriously' for over 20 years. Your fart in a jaccuzzi comment did nothing to advance the discussion, that's all.
 
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Well, I don't particularly like Bryan Adams music but I would hope that doesn't prejudice my view of his photography.
 
seen some of Bryan Adams photography and the b&w portraits are stunning! Mind you, if he wasn't famous I doubt whether he'd have 'access' to the rich and famous or all that lovely kit! ;)
 
DT01 said:
For reference: Here is some of Mr Adams' work: http://trendland.com/bryan-adams-from-rocker-to-photographer/#
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You might want to stick a NSFW on that.....

Wasn't previously familiar with Mr Adams pictures. I'd class them as competent (that's not as bad as it seems - lots of stuff I see isn't that good). But if it was by somebody else then we certainly wouldn't be talking about it. And it's possible it wouldn't have been so widely published.

As for Rankin.....one of the best branded photographers there is. I honestly don't think he ares if people think he's arrogant. In fact he probably prefers that they do (and a really good way to encourage it is to say things like 'I would hate for people to think I'm arrogant!').

Compare Bowie. Like his music or not he has the branding nailed. Plus he has a number 1 album after 45 years in the business without doing interviews or a tour. Some people probably think he's arrogant....
 
Don't suppose you have a link to the interview online, cant find my February copy anywhere, and don't recall reading the interview :shrug:

Seems a slightly odd view to take though.

Surprises me, as I always thought Rankin seemed a fairly genuine, not up his own arse guy.
 
treeman said:
Don't suppose you have a link to the interview online, cant find my February copy anywhere, and don't recall reading the interview :shrug:

Seems a slightly odd view to take though.

Surprises me, as I always thought Rankin seemed a fairly genuine, not up his own arse guy.
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It doesn't appear to be on the PP website Mark, although I have quoted the mag word for word. I was just wondering how he knew that Bryan Adams hadn't been to college, read books and learned his sh!t...:shrug:
 
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DT01 said:
Who said I take him seriously?! The fact that he's getting pages of coverage in an industry publication means that someone takes him seriously. I agree totally with your point about the background of the person and the output. As far as I know, Bryan Adams has been taking pictures 'seriously' for over 20 years. Your fart in a jaccuzzi comment did nothing to advance the discussion, that's all.
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It was a general question not specifically directed at you. I don't think it should be discussed - it just perpertuates his celeb status. Comments like that make him out to be an ass and he should be ignored
 
Is this because Adams has taken a couple of lucrative shoots from him recently I wonder? :)
 
I don't really know, but do you have to read a lot of books and to to college to be a great photographer? I see it more of an art than a science, to me being a photographer is very similar to playing an instrument, you can be technically gifted have read all the books in the world and have many a qualification know every chord, every scale. Doesn't mean you are gonna write the next 'Purple Haze' (Pretty sure Hendrix never had a days training in his life).


There must be some great photographers out there who never went to college.
 
What I find really odd is why somebody like Rankin would feel the need to slate another photographer. So what if Adams takes good pictures? Seems Rankin might not like Adams getting a share of the limelight, or maybe there's grave personal animosity beyond photography. Even so, seem weird he'd stoop so low as to comment publicly.
 
Yup.. he's arrogant. He's also very good at what he does. Does his arrogance detract from his images? No. Does it matter? Not really. Would the images be any better if he was humble? No. Are his images better than Bryan Adams's? Yes. Does he have a point? Possibly. Does it ultimately matter? No.

Pretty much sums it up for me.
 
John Rankin Waddell is a 100% ******, he can take a half decent photograph but so can Brian Adams, neither is better or worse than the other at photography but one is certainly way ahead in the plank stakes, a renowned photographer shouldn't be publicly flogging anyone else who wishes to give it a go, unless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
unless what?
 
Pookeyhead said:
Yup.. he's arrogant. He's also very good at what he does. Does his arrogance detract from his images? No. Does it matter? Not really. Would the images be any better if he was humble? No. Are his images better than Bryan Adams's? Yes. Does he have a point? Possibly. Does it ultimately matter? No.

Pretty much sums it up for me.
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I know him for being an arrogant cock not for being a photographer which sums it up for me. A sad state of affairs
 
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Who cares if he's arrogant. I judge photographers by their photography, not their personalities.
 
So one photographer gets narked that another photographer is doing quite well - and has a pop at him.

And it gets printed in professional photographer.

Says as much about the publication as the individual to me.
 
1. There's plenty of 'art' that gets sold because of the celeb status of the artist rather than the quality of the art itself. If he thinks photography is immune from this phenomenon he's as ignorant as he is arrogant. It makes him sound like a douche.

2. Having a pop at a fellow professional in an on-the-record interview is pretty poor. Again, it makes him sound like a douche.

3. If the exert from the interview in the OP is indicative of the whole, it sounds like the focus of his criticism is of Adams' training (or perceived lack thereof) rather than the photos. This smacks of the very worst of the elitism that infects a lot of the arts (and life in general) - and makes him sound like a douche.
 
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