Rankin at Milano Fashion Film Festival

On the occasion of Milano Fashion Film Festival, the visionary project of Costanza Cavalli Etro which leaves the word, or better the screen, to international talents in the field of cinematography with a focus on fashion, we had the chance to meet Rankin, the British photographer known for his genuine portraits, and to have given the world three iconic magazines like Hunger, AnOther and Dazed & Confused.

During his talk at Cinema Anteo in Milan, he told about how photography has changed in the past years, how the use of Photoshop is gradually being scaled down and that sometimes, a great idea is more important than a great budget.

Here’s our interview:

1. You founded Dazed & Confused when you had just graduated and it’s still one of the most influential fashion magazines nowadays. Could you expect this by that time?
No way. We (Jefferson Hack and I) didn’t think it would last more than a few years. We only cared about the next issue. Now it’s nearly 25 and I still can’t believe it’s still going and still so brilliant. There have been so many changes but the ethos of what we did, why we did it and what it stands for is the same. I’m very proud to have been there at the beginning and what it’s achieved. The people that have been part of it have all been so inspiring and have gone on to do exceptional things.

2. You gradually shifted your focus from photography to something more interactive like videos and short movies. Which is the artistic language you feel more at ease with?
I’ll always feel more at home with photography. It’s my first love and it’s what I feel most comfortable with.

3. Do you think fashion films are more effective than printed editorials?
No definitely not more effective. They just offer different experiences for the consumer or reader.

4. With your Rankin Live project you made fashion photography more democratic by portraying “common” people, in a very short time. Is there a difference for you when you have a famous character or a person from the street behind your lens?
Not really, I try to photograph people exactly the same whether they are famous or not. I like people and I'm inquisitive about them whether they are famous or not!