The Source: Rankin

Rankin, the most famous photographer on the planet and portraitist to the likes of the Queen, Mick Jagger and shots cover stars, reveals his muses, which range from The Jam to Paddington Bear

What is the most creative advertising idea you’ve seen in the last few months?

Nothing’s totally blown me away over the last few months, but I absolutely love Always #LikeAGirl; I really wish I’d been involved in making that. And I think Guinness Made Of Black is nuts to watch and would have been so much fun to make.

What’s your favourite website/app?

This is a bit sad and old in app terms, but I think [traffic and navigation app] Waze is incredible. It’s always so accurate and I hate wasting time!

What product could you not live without?

The Leica S-System. This is my preferred camera. It’s the best there is. It’s easy to use, the lenses are the best in the world and the file sizes and detail are amazing. It’s a no-brainer.

What product hasn’t been invented yet that would make your life/job better?

A teleporter. I travel with work for about three months of the year, so I’m up for anything that gets me away from planes, trains and automobiles.

What track/artist would you listen to for inspiration?

Gimme Shelter by the Rolling Stones – I’m listening to it now to help me answer these questions!

What’s the best film you’ve seen over the last year?

I absolutely loved The Gambler with Mark Wahlberg. It wasn’t perfect but it really got to me and I love the line “You need to get yourself some Fuck You money.” We all need Fuck You money. I also loved ’71 by Yann Demange. I thought it was one of the best directed edge-of-your-seat films I’ve seen in years! Yann Demange is going to do great things.

What show/exhibition has most inspired you recently?

I really enjoyed Hockney, Printmaker at the Dulwich Picture Gallery last year. It was a show of his etching and lithography printmaking and so much of it I hadn’t seen before. For me it just cemented my love for him as one of the best artists in the world. Bold, funny, technically amazing and very diverse, if you ever get a chance to see the show you’ll be inspired.

Mac or PC?

I love Apple products. Our whole studio uses them and I’m never far from my MacBook Pro. I’ll wake up in the middle of the night and read emails or watch a film on it. I’ve been using Macs since ’87.

What fictitious character do you most relate to?

As a kid I was obsessed with the Paddington Bear books. I liked him because he was an alternative thinker. There’s one story where Paddington went on a quiz show and was asked, “If you take an eight-foot plank of wood and cut it into eight same-size pieces, how long would each be?” He answers, “Eight feet,” and the quizmaster said, “No, young bear, that would be one foot each.” “Not if you cut it lengthways,” Paddington replied. That’s exactly the way I think.

If you could live in one city, where would it be?

London is the only one city for me. I adore living here and wouldn’t move out for love nor money.

What’s your favourite magazine?

I adore magazines; I consume them like a drug addict. For me at the moment I think Love Magazine, AnOther, Purple and Garage are some of the best magazines in the world.

Who’s your favourite photographer?

There are too many to mention, but I do love Bailey, Nick Knight and Juergen Teller – whatever these guys do always inspires me.

Who’s your favourite fashion designer?

Tu at Sainsbury’s.

If you could have been in any band, what band would you choose?

The Jam. They were my boyhood heroes and you never lose that. If you see me at a wedding and The Jam come on, close your eyes because it’s embarrassing!