John Rankin Waddell, or just Rankin, as he is more commonly known, is a British photographer, publisher, and film director. Best known for work that is on the cultural cusp and leading future trends, he has produced rule-breaking campaigns for brands such as Rolls Royce, Unilever, L’Oréal, Lego, and Samsonite; created wide-reaching projects for charities including Women’s Aid and Macmillan; and shot music videos for the likes of Miley Cyrus, Rita Ora, and Kelis.

As a photographer, Rankin’s portfolio ranges from portraiture to documentary. He has shot The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Kate Moss, Kendall Jenner, Zendaya and Queen Elizabeth II, to name only a few. In 2023, Rankin photographed King Charles III to mark the monarch’s 75th birthday for The Big Issue magazine.

As a publisher, Rankin co-founded the seminal magazine Dazed & Confused with Jefferson Hack in 1990, and has since published the likes of AnOther and AnOther Man, alongside over 40 books and the fashion and culture publication Hunger.

His photography has been published everywhere from his own publications to Elle, Vogue, Esquire, GQ, Rolling Stone, and Wonderland, and exhibited in galleries globally, including MoMA, New York, and the Victoria & Albert Museum, London.

Rankin lives in London with his wife Tuuli and their dogs.

In episode 262 Rankin discusses, among other things:

The magazine and show Faik, a first foray into AI
His love/hate relationship with AI imagery and why he uses it anyway
The way in which AI will also transform the music industry
The importance of critical thinking
The early days - starting Dazed & Confused
Using the magazine as a ‘Trojan Horse’
Being confrontational
Being a ‘dick’ and taking cocaine
Being saved by photography and fatherhood
Imposter syndrome and the benefit of losing it
Making a conscious decision not to be an ‘artist’
Teaching himself photography
Collaboration
Rankin Live - photographing 'normal' people
Being prolific
Personal Projects

Website | Instagram

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262 - Rankin

A Small Voice: Conversations with photographers and filmmakers