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Being famous for shooting people is something which has been achieved by many a criminal over the years, but Joe McNally found fame by doing the same - but managed to stay on the right side of the law.
Acclaimed photographer and author Joe McNally turned heads in Dubai when he arrived to take part in this year's Gulf Photo Plus as well as to launch his latest book, The Moment it Clicks.
To share his photographic genius at this year's annual photographic conference at Dubai's Knowledge Village, McNally's classes, seminars and workshops were over-subscribed before they'd even been announced.
Globally acclaimed and most famous for his work for National Geographic, McNally said he was impressed and astounded by the talent and expression of the photographers he had met during the exhibition.
The photographer drew quite a crowd as he took time to sign copies of his book for fans at Borders bookshop in the Mall of the Emirates.
McNally also shared his expertise in photography as one of 14 big-name international photographers teaching the principles of lighting and portrait photography.
Worldwide reputation
McNally said: "What you will see on the pages of this book is not about a specific time, place, people or cause. It's not about one picture or another.
"It's not about sportsmen or fashion models or war or politics or the news of the day. It's about being a photographer and about the sheer joy of clicking the shutter… repeatedly. The sweet sound of the shutter and the explosion which occurs in your head and in your heart when you make the shot.”
McNally enjoys a worldwide reputation as an award-winning photographer spanning more than 30 creative years.
He has shot major cover stories for high profile magazines and is known for his ability to complete technically and logistically complex assignments.
McNally is probably most famous for a series of images called Faces of Ground Zero - Portraits of the Heroes of September 11th.
But despite his experience in shooting all manner of subjects, from supermodels to sticklebacks, there is no hesitation when he picks his all-time favourite picture.
"There is no contest for me,” he says.
"I took a picture of my daughter when she was about five months old and it's just wonderful. She is in just a nappy and is trying to stand for one of the first times, on a wooden floor with the light coming through a sunny window.
"The shadows are amazing and the picture says so much about a family, a child, growth and the challenges we all face in life. I love the picture and I think it will always be my favourite.”
Hot demand
McNally recently pursued a personal project involving dancers of all genres including members of the Bolshoi Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre, among others.
But with a name like McNally, he is always in hot demand and has also just been selected to work on the promotion of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
McNally's book, like his work, has taken the photography world by storm and you only have to pick it up from the shelf to know what I mean when I say it's packed with "aha” images.
Each picture contains its own element of "wow” and clearly offers those clever insights that make photography come together for everyone.
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