Rodney Smith, M.S

Rodney Smith (1947-2016) was born in New York City, NY. He found his artistic inspiration while visiting the permanent collection of photography at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) during his junior year in college. After graduating from the University of Virginia in 1970, he went on to earn a master's degree in theology from Yale while also studying photography under Walker Evans. Influenced by the teaching and technical precision of Ansel Adams, Smith sought to perfect his own technique,...See more

Rodney Smith (1947-2016) was born in New York City, NY. He found his artistic inspiration while visiting the permanent collection of photography at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) during his junior year in college. After graduating from the University of Virginia in 1970, he went on to earn a master's degree in theology from Yale while also studying photography under Walker Evans. Influenced by the teaching and technical precision of Ansel Adams, Smith sought to perfect his own technique, narrowing his choice of camera, film, exposure, developer, and paper. He parlayed this training into a fellowship in Jerusalem, where he took the photos that would become his first book, In the Land of Light . After his return to the United States, he made his mark as a sought-after fashion photographer and artist. Throughout it all, he retained his signature aesthetic. Shooting exclusively with film and natural light, Smith's timeless images are instantly recognizable for the way they combine surrealism, style and humor. Smith passed away unexpectedly at age 68, soon after the first publication of Rodney Smith Photographs . Smith's other books include The Hat Book , The Book of Books and The End . See more at ... See less