Rodney Smith

Zoe Reading, Seated on Bookcase, Long Island, New York

2004

Rodney Smith was a renowned New York-based photographer who, in the tradition of Avedon, Penn and William Klein, transcended fashion photography and created fine art.

During a career that spanned over four decades, Smith’s iconic black and white photographs of Paris, New York and French Gardens often depicted romantic, grand scenes or reflected a quiet allure. Smith made photographs of timeless beauty and aesthetic value. His wit, humor, grace and style live on in the photographs he so magically created.

While at Yale, Smith studied under Walker Evans. Preferring to work in natural light, Smith shot predominantly in black and white until 2002 when he first began experimenting with color film. In choosing to shoot on film and develop his negatives by hand, Smith created timeless, classic images that reflect his innate playfulness and curiosity. Smith photographs are instantly recognizable for their classic sensibility and whimsical and surreal visual twists.

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