Stab Magazine | Photolyfe: Al Mackinnon
601 Views

Photolyfe: Al Mackinnon

Welcome to PhotoLyfe, in which Stab’s favourite photographers answer questions about themselves with their own images. It’s that old picture-tells-a-thousand-words chestnut but with more colour and pop. It’s a way to cut out all the bullshit. It’s like jacking into the main vein of those who supply us with exquisite surf imagery every day. Give thanks by studying each image with a more careful eye than ever! “Scotland, Ireland, England and a few other places, sometimes balmy, mostly chilly,” says Al Mackinnon about the locations of his life and photography. “Temperature doesn’t matter, but wave quality and sparse population do. Lineups, tubes and power surfing come first. Film or digital, doesn’t matter, I just want to create and capture my surroundings.” Al then signs off with an Ashleigh Brilliant quote: “My life has a superb cast, I just can’t figure out the plot.” Get at Al’s site here, FB here and IG here. 1. Describe yourself   2. Where are you from?   3. What got you into photography?   4. Where do you wish you were right now?   5. What inspires you?   6. Who’s your favourite person to photograph?   7. What makes the best photograph?   8. What’s your favourite weapon?   9. Describe your mood right now.   10. What else should we know about you?

style // Mar 8, 2016
Words by stab
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Welcome to PhotoLyfe, in which Stab’s favourite photographers answer questions about themselves with their own images. It’s that old picture-tells-a-thousand-words chestnut but with more colour and pop. It’s a way to cut out all the bullshit. It’s like jacking into the main vein of those who supply us with exquisite surf imagery every day. Give thanks by studying each image with a more careful eye than ever!

“Scotland, Ireland, England and a few other places, sometimes balmy, mostly chilly,” says Al Mackinnon about the locations of his life and photography. “Temperature doesn’t matter, but wave quality and sparse population do. Lineups, tubes and power surfing come first. Film or digital, doesn’t matter, I just want to create and capture my surroundings.” Al then signs off with an Ashleigh Brilliant quote: “My life has a superb cast, I just can’t figure out the plot.”

Get at Al’s site here, FB here and IG here.

1. Describe yourself

NORCAL_DAWN_FOG_38F8935

 

2. Where are you from?

LONDON-TOWN_I8L9139

 

3. What got you into photography?

LIGHTBOX_TRANNIES_IMG_9795

 

4. Where do you wish you were right now?

LOOKING-OUT_ISLANDS_SO-GLASSY_MG_2955

 

5. What inspires you?

SLAB-OF-SCOTLAND_AC_4825

 

6. Who’s your favourite person to photograph?

AL-MACKINNON_GREG-LONG_DUNGEONS_THE-ONE_AC_5888

 

7. What makes the best photograph?

PATAGONIA_STORM-LIGHT_I8L9486

 

8. What’s your favourite weapon?

CAMP_DAWN-FROST_OUTER-ISLANDS_38F0273

 

9. Describe your mood right now.

MULLAGHMORE_STORM_MACK9200

 

10. What else should we know about you?

AL-MACKINNON_SYNCRO_SNOW_8-BIT_I8L7174

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Hemp In The Athlete Zone, Pipe Master On Hypto Kryptos, Freesurfers Monetize Loneliness

This is the new order of operations — a Q1 industry report.

Feb 20, 2026

“It Was Like the Fourth of July. The Kitchen Sink’s Shattering. The Curtains Are On Fire. I Was Just Swimming Though Black Smoke.”

Kolohe Andino recalls the Gold Coast apartment fire that almost took everything.

Feb 20, 2026

Watch: Dane Reynolds Quizzes The Reigning World Champ | StabMic Episode 02

Yago Dora on his title year, the Volcom x Dad split, EAST over SITD, CT…

Feb 19, 2026

What I Learned Shooting Stab in the Dark with Kelly Slater

These innocuous observations from 11 days working with the greatest surfer of all time. 

Feb 18, 2026

Why Aren’t There More European Freesurfers?

Charly Quivront's new film, 'Who Is Charly?,' helps explain it.

Feb 18, 2026

Ferrari Boyz: Mikey Wright’s Apocalypse-Proof Ram 3500 Mega Cab

A daily driver with a 9-ton towing capacity.

Feb 17, 2026

Kurt Van Dyke, Renowned Californian Surfer, Brutally Murdered in Costa Rica

The 66-year-old was discovered under his bed with multiple stab wounds and a knife nearby.

Feb 17, 2026

Rebuttal: Never Stop Watching Surf Movies 

Social media makes us anxious and depressed. Surf content does not.

Feb 16, 2026

How Italo Ferreira Bought His Way Into Nike, The Reality Of Fatherhood, And Embracing Global Scrutiny

The Stab Interview with the most sleep-deprived man in surfing.

Feb 13, 2026

Will A GOAT Bite On Gnaraloo’s $17 Million Price Tag?

World Champs and Hollywood circle a red-dirt kingdom that can never truly be owned.

Feb 13, 2026

Dane Reynolds On His Favorite Surfer, Storytelling Through Surf Media, And Releasing Former’s New Film

Our first official episode of StabMic is live. 

Feb 12, 2026

Watch: Episode 03 of Stab In The Dark X Starring Kelly Slater

The untold story behind the GOAT’s split from CI + a three-layer wax cake theory.

Feb 11, 2026

Why You Should Stop Watching Surf Videos*

Instagram reels and the twisted fantasy of the parasocial surfing life.

Feb 9, 2026

Breaking: Rogue Boat Plows Through Steamer Lane, Capsizes With Family Of Six Onboard

Stab writer Holden Trnka saves a kid, gives a first hand report.

Feb 8, 2026

Watch: How $13M And 70,000 Tons Of Granite Changed An Australian Surf Town Forever

A documentary on Midds Reef — the world's best artificial wave — by Rhys Jones.

Feb 7, 2026

Pipeline Was Really, Really Good Today

CT qualifications, countless nine point rides, Australian domination, and the journey of a local hero.

Feb 6, 2026

Why Chapter 11’s Doors Are Shut + Why Former’s Output Is About To Spike

Former drops teaser for upcoming feature, ‘Defect’, starring the entire frozen pea army.

Feb 5, 2026

Joyride: What’s In An Asymmetrical Surfboard?

An asymmetrical study of Lovelace's Zambal and Satellite models.

Feb 5, 2026
Advertisement