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He famously photographed the late Queen Elizabeth II back in the Autumn of 2001 to mark her Golden Jubilee.
And one of the world’s top photographers, Rankin, 56, told MailOnline that he admired the way the monarch was able to tell him ‘no’ about some of his creative ideas, but in a nice way as he reflected upon the experience three months after her death,
It’s been well-documented that Rankin had intended to shoot the Queen with a sword in her hand in her throne room, but she declined saying she didn’t like her hands.
But Rankin told MailOnline: ‘I’m not sure if she did or didn’t like her hands but I think in hindsight she said she didn’t as a way of being nice without saying “no”.
EXCLUSIVE ‘She had a way of getting what she wanted’: Photographer Rankin reveals how the late Queen Elizabeth got her way during their 2001 shoot after saying she didn’t like her hands
‘When the photo came back, the Palace rejected one and approved another, but the one they rejected was the one they ended up using everywhere – with the Union Jack.
‘They perhaps rejected it because it was very nationalistic. It maybe felt wrong at the time, but it was amazing picture. I don’t always think that about my work because I am very obsessive.
‘But the Queen said “I like the stitching on the flag” and that was her way of saying which one she wanted me to use without explicitly saying it.
‘That’s an art in itself.’
Rankin said: ‘The Queen said “I like the stitching on the flag” and that was her way of saying which one she wanted me to use without explicitly saying it’
Rankin has previously said how funny the Queen was during the shoot and how she put him at ease.
And now after her passing, he said: ‘I was probably a Republican when I went and by the time I researched her and photographed her, I was a big supporter of her.
‘Maybe not a supporter of the whole of the Royal family but certainly her. She was my queen and I totally respected her as that person.
‘She did so much good – and the Royal family bring so much good to the country. It’s easy to forget.’
Rankin said that he is kicking himself after he had to turn down photographing King Charles when he was still a prince.
He said: ‘I was asked to photograph him for the Big Issue but the dates didn’t work out. I was also a bit reluctant, I wasn’t sure. But I’ve since kicked myself.
‘It wouldn’t have worked out because of the dates – but I am fascinated by people who are born into positions that they have very little choice about.
Turn back time: Rankin said that he is kicking himself after he had to turn down photographing King Charles when he was still a prince – pictured in November
‘In the same way people are born into poverty, I am fascinated by that.’
Rankin has said he’s had good and bad experiences when it has come to how well he has connected with the people he has worked with on shoots.
He said: ‘Heidi Klum has become a really good friend who I met about 18 years ago. I love really powerful people but being heterosexual, I love powerful women.
‘She is buoyant, cheeky, funny. She tries to get me to dance all the time.
‘It’s always been a brother and sister thing with me and Heidi. We just got on, I’m sure she was never attracted to me but I was never like “I really find her attractive”. I just thought she is the funniest best person.
‘I also really like Germans as well. I don’t know why, there is a sense of humour I really like.’
Rankin said of his good friend Heidi Klum: ‘It’s always been a brother and sister thing with me and Heidi. We just got on, I’m sure she was never attracted to me but I was never like “I really find her attractive”. I just thought she is the funniest best person’
Rankin added; ‘I also really like Robert Downey. I only met him twice but I just got on with him straight away. He had an incredible work ethic both times.
‘I wouldn’t call him a friend but I adore him. He’s so funny that when he’s making a joke, he is three jokes ahead of you.’
Rankin has partnered with Vodafone to commission a series of images that depict the many faces of digital exclusion in the UK.
The Faces of Disconnection photo series comes as the brand reaches the milestone of donating connectivity to one million people living in digital exclusion and extends its commitment to help a total of four million people cross the digital divide by 2025.
While photography is about connectivity, Rankin admits he hasn’t clicked with everyone he has worked with.
‘Vinnie Jones definitely number one when it comes to a lack of connectivity,’ he admitted.
‘I’ve also realised you just don’t know what’s happened to someone that morning or that day.
Rankin added; ‘I also really like Robert Downey. I only met him twice but I just got on with him straight away. He had an incredible work ethic both times’
‘Your first impression of someone can change. I went to meet JK from Jamiroquai but I didn’t even get to meet him because something was going on.
‘I was like what a w***er. The photo we’d planned didn’t happen happen and I was p***ed off about it
‘But I always believe in second opportunities, not chances. If something was a bit weird, always try and make it happen again
‘I did meet him again and I was like “you’re amazing”. He has great energy and connected to me.’
Rankin admits he has an obsessive personality which has both helped his craft but hindered him personally.
He said: ‘I ruminate on how I would do things differently and tear myself apart, but it doesn’t last very long
‘I’ve got this really amazing ability. I don’t know where I get it from, I wish I could give it to other people in that I can go to sleep and be ruminating and I will wake up and will have moved on. I never regret the past.
‘I think you should always accept that you did something wrong in that situation but you should move on and learn from it.’
Rankin said he was let down by JK from Jamiroquai who he had planned to photograph. He said: ‘I was like what a w***er. The photo we’d planned didn’t happen happen and I was p***ed off about it’ but they later met and he loved him – pictured in 2019
He continued: ‘I love therapy, I love looking at myself and reflectively and going “OK, your’e not going to do that again.
‘Maybe when I’ve not done a good job or I’ve dropped the ball on something or I’ve been in a bad mood. But my job is to never be in a bad mood.’
Vodafone and photographer Rankin have joined forces to release ‘Faces of Disconnection’, a photo series showcasing the real stories behind digital disconnection.
As new research reveals nearly half of Brits are unfamiliar with the issue, the royalty-free images are freely available to all in the UK via stock image site Pexels, with the aim of providing a more accurate portrayal of the effects of the digital divide.
The series is released as Vodafone reaches the one million milestone in its everyone.connected campaign and extends its commitment to help a total of four million people cross the digital divide by 2025.
Latest project: Vodafone and photographer Rankin have joined forces to release ‘Faces of Disconnection’, a photo series showcasing the real stories behind digital disconnection
