ANDREW RANKIN
b. Melbourne, 1961

I have an extensive background in the world of photography spanning two decades, three Australian States and four Continents.

Beginning my training in the early eighties under the mentorship of renowned international photographer Athol Shmith at the All Graphic Studio in Melbourne, within a few years I was accepted to study at the Victorian College of the Arts and later worked as a photojournalist with The Australian in Melbourne. 

In 1987 I moved to Sydney to work full-time for The Sydney Morning Herald and its weekend supplement The Goodweekend Magazine. The following year I was enticed to return to The Australian; this time at their Sydney headquarters to take the position as Senior Photographer for The Australian Magazine. Much of the work involved shooting portraits of various Australian literati, fashion spreads, sport and documentary images.

I have the honour of photographing a number of people from the world of arts and entertainment including Sir Sydney Nolan, Ken Done, Colleen McCollough, Lady Ruth Cracknell, Sam Neil, Nicole Kidman and Elle MacPherson. A great deal of my work was shot throughout Australia and overseas to document social issues and current affairs for the magazine.

During this period, I was invited to participate in two portrait exhibitions: Face to Face (1991) at Sydney’s Blaxland Gallery; and Uncommon Australians (1992) – an important nationally touring exhibition organised by The Gordon Darling Foundation and impetus for the launch of the Australian Portrait Gallery.

In 1993 I left The Australian Magazine and worked freelance, engaged by various design agencies and magazines. I also contributed to the Australian Commercial and Magazine Photographers (ACMP) group exhibition What We Did On The Weekend (1996). In 1996, and 1997 my works were selected to feature in the Almanacs of the ACMP (nos. 3 and 4). I have won many awards including a first place in the New South Wales Australian Institute of Professional Photography (A.I.P.P.) Awards as well as several national awards including one Gold and six Silver awards.

I moved to North Queensland in 1999 and in November 2003 opened my new studio in the Townsville CBD. The studio has become the centre of my operations and has attracted a number of new clients to my business including a recent assignment in New York City and a large photo-installation called Road Trip (2004). I have been official photographer for a number of high profile events in Townsville including The Strand opening, Federation North and VP60. My work has been exhibited at the Perc Tucker Regional Gallery with a solo show "Wrap" in 2002 and various group shows.  I am also currently a member of the Wildlight Photo Agency located in Sydney, Australia.