Return to Photography Is My Passion

Barry Rankin Master of Photography, Photographic Craftsman, ASP, XXV, PPM, MMPPA Barry Rankin, owner of Dirla Studio is a four time Michigan Professional Photographer of the Year. He also is a four time Professional Photographers of America National Photographer of the Year. Barry has been a working professional for Thirty Five years and in that time he has photographed weddings in Martha's Vineyard, MA, Maui, Hawaii, Gainesville, FL, Memphis, TN, and throughout Michigan including Mackinaw Island, and Greenfield Village. Barry photographed the wedding of the son of Past President of the Professional Photographers of America Helen Yancy. Barry was one of the five founding fathers of the Society of XXV and was the Charter President. He has had more photographs accepted into the Professional Photographers of America national print exhibit that any Michigan photographer in the history of PPA. At Mid East States convention in Dayton, Ohio, March 2007, he became the first Michigan Photographer in the history of PPA to achieve 100 print merits. At the 2007 Professional Photographers of Michigan state convention Barry won the Fuji Masterpiece in the portrait category and won Best of Show as well for his image titled Freedom. Rankin is one of only sixteen Jury Chairmen in PPA. He has lectured at seven PPA National conventions, also in thirty-nine states throughout the United States, as well as abroad in England, Ireland, Mexico, and Canada. He has illustrated a book titled The Art of Rock and Roll featuring such stars as Elvis Presley, Bob Seger, The Beach Boys, Alice Cooper, and Ted Nugent. Barry photographed Big & Rich this past year and Jeff Daniels, the movie actor. He was the official photographer for the University of Michigan Sports Information Department for 28 years and had his work displayed in hundreds of Michigan publications. Barry was the only photographer working at the invitation only VIP reception for Michigan football head coach Bo Schembeckler's retirement party in 1990. Barry has done spot work for Sports Illustrated, Big Ten magazine, and was an official photographer for the Detroit Tigers when they won the World Series in 1984. He is the official team photographer for the Saginaw Spirit Hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League, and has done some work for the Detroit Red Wings. He is also the official photographer for the Great Lakes Loons Minor League Class A baseball team which is affiliated with the Los Angeles Dodgers. His wedding work has been displayed in Kodak's Journey In to Imagination Pavilion at Walt Disney's Epcot Center, one of only ten images from around the world in 1986. Barry won Wedding Professional Photographers International's Grand Award for the top wedding image in the world in 1985, and had the top wedding image in the 1998 Professional Photographers of America's Masters Loan Collection.