Photo: © Joe McNally
Photographer and bestselling author Joe McNally shares stories and lessons from a life in photography.
In 1976, Joe McNally set off for New York with the simple goal of becoming a professional photographer. It proved far from easy. At first, he had little choice but to work as the photocopy-machine attendant for the Daily News. Earning the lowest possible salary and living in a cheap Manhattan hotel, he could barely make ends meet, and life was anything but glamorous.
Through tremendous drive, a keen photographic eye, and a willingness to accept almost any assignment that came his way, he eventually began producing photo essays and stories for National Geographic, Time, LIFE, Sports Illustrated and other magazines. Assignments took him to nearly 70 countries, and his photography earned dozens of awards.
In The Real Deal , Joe describes how it all began and candidly shares the stories, lessons, and insights he gathered along the way. This is not specifically an instructional book about where to place a light, although it certainly includes practical information. Instead, it offers a broader account of everything that crossed his path after he began working as a photographer.
I imagined a life. And then I took pictures of it.
Nor is this a nostalgic look back at the “good old days,” which McNally says never really existed. Instead, The Real Deal is a collection of candid field notes—some short, others quite long—that he accumulated over time. Together, they provide an intimate behind-the-scenes look at a photographer who has seen and done almost everything.
Although today’s photography industry bears little resemblance to the industry of just 10 years earlier—and even less to that of 40 years earlier—the qualities needed to become a successful photographer remain the same: character, fundamental lessons, and the ability to adapt and then adapt again.
Even in the life of truly great photographers, the angels only sat on their shoulders sporadically, at best.
Joe writes about everything from the essential knowledge needed to use—and recreate— window light to the importance of building lasting relationships based on trust; from lessons learned after a day in the field to the need to follow your imagination wherever it leads; and from the “random” and “lucky” moments that propel a career to the wonders and pitfalls of modern camera technology.
For every mention of f-stops and shutter speeds, the book devotes equal attention to the importance of access, the occasional moment of overconfidence, and the idea of becoming iconic.
Before McNally became a celebrated, award-winning photographer, respected teacher, and author of several bestselling books, he was simply Joe—moving from one assignment to the next each day and building a portfolio, a skill set, a reputation, and a career. He imagined a life and then took pictures of it. The Real Deal shows many of those images: a wide variety of situations, all expertly captured.
The Real Deal: Field Notes from the Life of a Working Photographer - Joe McNally
Pages: 348
Price: €38.99
Publisher: Rocky Nook
ISBN: 9781681988016
