Joe McNally
Joe McNally is an internationally acclaimed, award-winning photographer whose prolific career includes assignments in nearly 70 countries. McNally is known world-wide as not only one of the top, technically excellent photographers of his generation, but his charming demeanor, confidence and humor make him a sought-after choice from CEO’s to celebrities to commercial and magazine clients alike.
Location: United States
Date: 16th November 2022
Heroes of the extreme
An interview with Joe McNally
Meeting Joe
The journey to the extraordinary.
You are the unquestioned Great Master of Light in photography, as your career and books, and publications in several magazines for decades, and several other great achievements show. How did you reach such a competence in terms of photographic skills and lighting knowledge?
Photography is a great, ongoing teacher, and a humbling enterprise. I am still learning behind the camera, now, after doing this for forty years. Things still surprise me. I still feel when I leave the field and get back to the computer that I could have done better. Always. It’s the fuel of the fire of a photographic life. Striving, wanting, needing to do better. My very first cover story for National Geographic was called the Sense of Sight. I spent six months in the field, toting cameras and lenses and generally for a long trip, 200-300 rolls of Kodachrome. Which took up a lot of room in my gear bags! Thankfully, Geographic was pleased with the story and it ran 42 pages, plus the cover. From there, I continued to work with small lights, and as I did more and more celebrity work for magazines like LIFE, bigger strobes. It’s a process. A lifelong learning curve.
When did you realize that you have found your photographic voice? And in the years has it changed? How?
My muse, photographically, as always been people. If people are involved, I’m curious about it, and curiosity drives the camera, always. Early in my career, I was determined to become a newspaper photographer. I somewhat inadvertently, discovered I had a strong color palette and a pretty good imagination about how to tell stories with color and light. So, I imagine the answer to this question revolves around when I started to shoot for magazines, and do lengthier coverages in color. There’s nothing like seeing your photo on the cover of a major magazine. It really was energizing, finding my path with color.
From Life to National Geographic is quite a leap which one did you enjoy better of the two magazines?
Honestly, I always enjoyed shooting for LIFE better than Geographic. Now, I had an amazing time at Geographic, and worked many stories with a brilliant editor and friend, Bill Douthitt. I became the last staff photographer in the history of the magazine, and I had grown up photographically admiring so many of the legendary photographers there that it was quite heady to become a part of that tradition. I learned a great deal from them. Amazing magazine, with an amazing history of important photography that really changed things.
Joe's gear
Ensure those moments are never compromised.
You’ve been a faithful user of all of our brands, from Gitzo, to Manfrotto, and passing through Avenger. You also are one of those who helped the diffusion of the use of the c-stand among many others of our products, how did they become such great work companions to you?
I’ve always believed in using high end gear. When the chips are down on location, you have to rely on the equipment, and the fact that it won’t let you down. I’ve done cover sessions with celebrities that were over in five minutes. You can’t fail in that instance, and you have to concentrate completely on what’s in front of the lens. You can’t be worried about the performance of the gear.
Framing the extraordinary
Capturing award winning photographs.
Do you have any new on going, or starting projects you would love to tell us about?
I do have projects in the works. As I write this I’m heading to Romania for a corporate job. I’m prepping now, two years out, for the ’24 Olympics. Tokyo feels like it’s barely in the rear view mirror, but you have to look forward as a photographer. I’m teaching a series of destination workshops in 2023 which will bring me to some amazing places. So, things remain busy.
What is your piece of advice for all those who would love to start a career in photography, nowadays?
Read a great deal. Be as aware of the world and its trends as you can be. Look outwards always, and remain sympathetic and curious. Stay motivated to find time behind the camera. During slow times, assign yourself. Remain engaged. And, early in your career, lay down a good groundwork of technical skills. Too many would be photogs take the automated cameras of today off the shelf and expect them to solve everything for them in the field. Ain’t gonna happen. Your art is the house, and it has to rest on a strong foundation, and that foundation is knowing what you’re doing.
Be inspired
Read more about Joe's experiences shooting dance photography or his newest adventure to Costa Rica.
DANCE PHOTOGRAPHY
A Gitzo Story by Joe McNally
READ THE STORY
COSTA RICA: WILDLIFE AND WATERFALLS
A Gitzo Story by Joe McNally
READ THE STORY