Bio
Growing up in the south, I often felt like an outsider, an observer of people, culture and details. Now, photography is the medium that best allows me to engage people, places and things and respond to them… to tell a story…So here’s mine…
I began my career as a graphic designer. And while I spent a number of years as an award winning illustrator, my work progressively evolved toward photography, as I began to incorporate more photographic elements into collage and mixed media projects. Looking to simplify the work, I started to explore photography in its own right and earned my MFA at Columbia College Chicago.
Here’s where the story gets better…
Being a photographer allows me to continue to observe the social and cultural scenes around us. I pay close attention to detail in order to capture the genuine nature of my subjects. I approach every project I photograph like it’s a unique work of art.
That’s why I especially enjoy photographing kids…
They lack the facade that adults learn to present to the world. It’s that freshness and sense of the unexpected, their natural instinct and lack of inhibition that I find so exciting about photographing them. Yes, it’s the genuineness. It makes the whole experience worthwhile...
So, that’s my story… What story would you like to tell?
Rick Smith has a BFA in studio arts from Auburn University and a Master of Fine Arts in photography from Columbia College Chicago, where he is now an adjunct faculty member. He is based in Chicago, and is available for assignments and commissions worldwide.