Nigel Rorbach | Practise Makes Perfect

AT THE AGE OF 12 NIGEL RORBACH PICKED UP A PHOTO CAMERA FOR THE FIRST TIME AND HE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO PUT IT BACK DOWN EVER SINCE. WHICH HAS RESULTED IN A HUGE COLLECTION OF SNAPSHOTS AND CANDIDS OF HIS FRIENDS, PROBABLY MUCH TO THEIR ANNOYANCE. BUT THAT ALL CAME TO A CHANGE WHEN NIGEL DECIDED TO TAKE HIS PASSION A STEP FURTHER. AND BECAME LIVING PROOF THAT ALL HIS EXERCISE WITH THE CAMERA REALLY PAID OFF. AFTER ALL, PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT.

When Nigel Rorback was 12 years old, his mum gave him a camera to take on a school trip. This trip would turn out to be a week of shooting friends, scenery and everything else that came on his path, and the beginning of a glorious career as photographer. But that of course started a bit later.

As mentioned before, from the moment Nigel Rorbach had puts his hands on his first camera, his love and passion for photography blossomed. His thirst for knowledge about different techniques became insatiable and by the time he was 21 he’d amassed a huge collection of snapshots of his friends. Not sure if they were all too happy with Nigel’s ever present camera but they did help Nigel to decide to take the next step in what would become a successful career in photography. In 1993 Nigel Rorbach enrolled in a photography course at his local college and he spent the next 3 years learning about the craft and developing his skills. If his friends thought this would give them some time off, they were wrong. Driven as he was, Nigel not only became one of the most proficient students on the course, he also shot a further 4 to 5 rolls of film by week in textures, shapes and yes, portraits.

Herb Ritts once said during a lecture somewhere in America that "If you are shooting a model, don't stay in one place, get off the tripod! If you start in the corner of the room, end up outside!" Being a passionate fan of Ritts, Nigel Rorbach did exactly that.  After he successfully completed his course, he has been focusing mainly on portraiture and people photography. His years of practice made him decide early in his career already to bring his subjects away from the standard black canvas and place them against sceneries and in environments that either compliments or contrasts their personalities. Moving around and exploring new areas is a source of inspiration for Nigel. As is music, film and fashion, and the creative sense of image such as practiced by other renowned photographers like Annie Lebowitz and Jean-Baptiste Mondino. Challenging the viewers perception of what a photo should be is the foundation of Nigel’s work. And that practice really makes perfect will become even more visible in Nigel Rorbach’s soon to be published first art book and editorial film. –BM-

NIGEL RORBACH | BEAUTIFULMAG

Comments

[Sean D. (rSEANd PHOTOGRAPHY)]

Nigel is an amazing person and it's great to see his work featured here. Very nicely done. :-)

[Lucien]

I love the THEO picture bondaged to the bed