"This was my first time working with a professional model. Danielle made my job REALLY easy."
"Elaine is a talented sculptor from Canada who recently moved to New York. She has this quiet, natural beauty that I really love."
"This is the rapper Fam-Lay. The idea was to shoot him hanging out on this one chaotic block in Manhattan on Broadway and 28th Street." Brendan Dugan, art director.
Portrait of designer Luke Hayman of Pentagram studios. Alan Wardle, art director; Computer Arts Projects, client.
"This was a story about artists living in Red Hook, Brooklyn. The writer and I spent the day talking to people all over the neighborhood." Ingrid Roise Kielland, writer; Nils Vik, photo editor; D2, client.
"This is a portrait of illustrator Sam Weber. I am a huge fan of his work." Alan Wardle, art director; Computer Arts Projects, client.
"There's a very cinematic feel to this shot. It reminds me of a film still from an old French movie."
"I snapped this photo of Vanessa while she was getting ready for the shoot. My favorite shots are almost always the unplanned ones."
06.01.09
www.reynardli.com
Duration: Three years. Staff: Me. Education: BFA in photography, though the best education I received was after I moved to New York to assist. Those first couple of years helped me see the possibilities in this industry. I learned some technical tricks here and there, but more importantly, I learned the importance of being a good businessperson. I worked in some of the biggest studios in New York and assisted on location all over town in some of the most incredible places. I saw the rewards of hard work, and I knew that one day I'd be doing what these photographers were doing too. It was just a matter of putting in the time and effort. I'm getting there, slowly, but I'm getting there. Cultural Influences: Photographic influences include Bruce Davidson, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Helen Levitt and Walker Evans. I’m inspired by the "street" aesthetic. I love the "controlled spontaneity" that these photographers could capture. It's a skill that takes practice. And it's the reason why I try to shoot everyday. Neil Young also inspires me. Environment: When I'm taking someone's portrait, environment is very important; it creates the setting and the mood and gives context to the subject I'm shooting. The environment that I live in is also important to me. New York City is an amazing place to be for a photographer (if you have the mental stability to survive it). Philosophy: Keep it real, yo.