“I’m an absolute tart when it comes to lighting!” – RANKIN 2014

It’s probably a bit late to post about The Photography Show but I thought as it was such a great day, why not? Practically Christmas in fact!

On 1st of March 2014, I went to The Photography Show at the NEC, and what a show! If I was let loose and wasn’t on limited funds I’d have the entire exhibition in my bedroom! Exhibitors from Canon and Nikon to rogue Stormtroopers, it’s safe to say it included everything for everyone.

I began with a lovely little stall by The Disabled Photographers society, they were so lovely and welcoming and had all types of photography equipment of all ages and models up for grabs. This is where I happened to stumble across a Kodak Pocket Camera, for £10 he was mine! How is that possible? You can never have too many film cameras in my opinion. And they then reinforced my “lovely” opinion of them by kindly showing me how to collapse it, without laughing too much.

This is Albert – Yes, I name my Cameras.

Unfortunately for my future savings, I decided I had to go talk to the lovely people at Canon, where so many encouraging people were equipped Canons of all models. HEAVEN! I held a 1-D for the first time, one hell of a tank in comparison with Leeroy my little 1000d, and discussed how it wasn’t for me and what I should go onto instead. Which led me onto the 6D mark III. Beautiful, that is all I have to say, and with the lens I wanted it’s a worthwhile £2000.

After several laps of taking in the whole two halls, I literally bumped into someone, apologising frantically I realised who it was, RANKIN. I had bumped into my favourite photographer, then proceeded to shout “You’re Rankin!” in his face, like a complete idiot! He quickly replied with “Yes” and walked off. Being a social media slave I had to tweet my embarrassment, which I might add he “favourited”, which softened the blow a little.

Humiliated, I did another lap of the hall and came across a little pop up bookshop called Book Axis, where a lovely man helped me pick several books to add to my future basket and one I couldn’t leave without at a discount price called “Light it, Shoot it, Retouch it.” Full of new lighting inspiration if you’re struggling from a slight block.

A bit happier I strolled over to the Super stage where Rankin was giving his talk for an hour and a half, only two seats from the front! We had a slideshow with Fire by Kasabian in the background and went through it with Rankin explaining the motives behind each shot. Asking about tips and techniques he came out with the quote of this post of “I’m an absolute tart when it comes to lighting”, what a way to describe it, no tripods involved just one strong assistant making the light mobile. The talk began to come to a close and the security were directing us out while Rankin had just told everyone to go and see him.

After I tackled with the crowd and with “Fuck you Rankin” to be released later this year, which includes a compilation of his works with his models giving the finger, I managed to remind him that I was the one who humiliated myself, which he responded with “Yeah, I know, I just favourited your tweet, I then managed to get a “Fuck you” selfie, and got him to sign my Hunger magazine.

Safe to say I was overwhelmed!

http://www.disabledphotographers.co.uk/