{"id":8553,"date":"2016-10-04T10:26:29","date_gmt":"2016-10-04T10:26:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.limitedruns.com\/blog\/?p=8553"},"modified":"2017-02-11T14:06:13","modified_gmt":"2017-02-11T14:06:13","slug":"russ-ford-reyn-soffes-photo-collection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.limitedruns.com\/blog\/photography\/russ-ford-reyn-soffes-photo-collection\/","title":{"rendered":"EXHIBITION: How To Become Human
Russ Ford & Reyn Soffe’s First Collection"},"content":{"rendered":"

As Limited Runs prepares to release the first of a series of fine art photo collections by an emerging and creative team, I met with the creators; New York based photographers Russ Ford and Reyn Soffe, to discuss the release of their first photo collection, the creative process and influences. \u00a0I quickly learned that while they make up two distinct people with different personalities, they often answer as one, which explains the synergy between the two who have created a unique and dynamic style in their work which is both commercial and visionary at the same time.<\/p>\n

“There are too many serious photos in the world and we didn\u2019t want to be reminded of something heavy or dramatic when we placed our art in our homes”<\/em><\/h3>\n
\"SMILE<\/a>

SMILE<\/em><\/strong> <\/a>by Russ Ford and Reyn Soffe<\/p><\/div>\n

LR<\/strong>:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We are so grateful and honored that you guys have decided to work with us to release your first fine art photo collection. \u00a0Can you tell us about this collection?<\/p>\n

Reyn<\/strong>:\u00a0 This first fine art collection is called How To Become Human<\/em><\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 This project is to push the human form into a simple and light hearted realm. Pushing the human body to create shapes and other human forms allowed Russ and I to explore the lighter side of things. There are too many serious photos in the world and we didn\u2019t want to be reminded of something heavy or dramatic when we placed our art in our homes. We want our homes filled with a light energy that can translate into a loving home.<\/p>\n

\"Question<\/a>

Question Mark<\/em><\/strong><\/a> by Russ Ford and Reyn Soffe<\/p><\/div>\n

LR<\/strong>: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Let\u2019s start at the beginning, how did you guys meet?<\/p>\n

Reyn<\/strong>:\u00a0 Russ and I met at the University of Utah at my old girlfriend\u2019s apartment (who broke my heart) where she was rooming with Russ\u2019s future wife. We became friends and eventually met up in New York after Russ had been living in Asia and I in Europe.<\/p>\n

LR<\/strong>: \u00a0 \u00a0 You guys are currently based in New York City, what was it that initially brought you here?<\/p>\n

Reyn<\/strong>:\u00a0 Russ came to New York to be a stock market trader and I came for art direction in advertising and fashion.<\/p>\n

LR<\/strong>: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 With such different career paths what was the impetus for partnering and changing careers?<\/p>\n

Reyn<\/strong>:\u00a0 After a shoot that I was art directing, I had the idea to start shooting myself but knew I didn\u2019t have the technique. Russ and I had previously spoken about his short photography education and wanting his hobby to turn into a new career direction. That evening,\u00a0as I left the set, while walking through Manhattan, I called Russ and asked him if he\u2019d like to start shooting as a team. He instantly said yes. From there we didn\u2019t touch a camera for 6 months. We studied, built references and created ideas. A year and a half later we shot the cover for Anthropologie.<\/p>\n

\"Light<\/a>

Light<\/strong> <\/em><\/a>by Russ Ford and Reyn Soffe<\/p><\/div>\n

“We want our homes filled with a light energy that can translate into a loving home”<\/em><\/h2>\n


\nLR<\/strong>: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Can you guys talk about working together and your creative process.<\/p>\n

Russ<\/strong>:\u00a0\u00a0 Our work process is an open collaboration. Typically it starts out with an idea, usually from Reyn but then I come in and fill in the blanks or know what technique to employ to achieve the desired outcome. Due to the back and forth collaborative process, the preproduction can take a long time. During the production process the roles are more or less interchangeable.\u00a0 By this point there exists a clear vision of the desired outcome and we execute without a preconceived notion of who is performing exactly what role.<\/p>\n

Reyn<\/strong>:\u00a0 Sometimes I\u2019ll be behind the camera and other times Russ will be the one behind the camera.\u00a0 The important thing to us is that in production and post-production the collaboration continues, in order to arrive at the best possible piece of art.\u00a0 To us it doesn’t feel important to be married to who does what.\u00a0 The most important thing is the concept and the best execution of that concept.\u00a0 All the rest is noise.<\/p>\n

LR<\/strong>: \u00a0 \u00a0 Let’s talk a bit\u00a0about your technique and approach to the projects that you take on.<\/p>\n

Russ & Reyn<\/strong>: We are conceptual artists.\u00a0 But for us there is no shining technique in the creation of our art.\u00a0 The technique serves the idea.\u00a0 We love to create art that borders on the fantastical with an aesthetic that reminds us of the mundane.\u00a0 We tend to shy away from hyper stylized or over the top scenes in favor of something that feels real and genuine.\u00a0 Once the idea is born, we let it determine what technique would best be employed to realize its creation.\u00a0 Because of this approach, most standards in our creative world float.\u00a0 However, we have a few constant rules that guide us:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Does it look like its shot in camera without Photoshop?<\/li>\n
  2. If there is a background, we try to integrate it into the photo.<\/li>\n
  3. Is it simple?<\/li>\n
  4. Does the idea have a wink? Does it have a little bit of humor?<\/li>\n
  5. If it looks over retouched or complicated, throw it away.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \"Missing<\/a>

    Missing<\/strong> <\/em><\/a>by Russ Ford and Reyn Soffe<\/p><\/div>\n

    LR<\/strong>:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Your work is very powerful and I feel iconic, where does the inspiration come from when you plan out a shoot?<\/p>\n

    Reyn<\/strong>:\u00a0 We gather a lot of inspiration from illustrations or graphic design. Most of our imagery is story-boarded out like a graphic design piece when we create the concept. We do this because we believe that through simple graphic shapes, one has a better memory retention. So when we have an idea that we want to shoot we then decide what will complement the simplicity and create an iconic piece.<\/p>\n

    Check put the entire\u00a0How To Become Human Collection<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

    Sign-up for our\u00a0newsletter<\/strong>\u00a0<\/a>and get\u00a0news, updates and special offers<\/p>\n

    For lovers of Vintage Posters, Photography and Art — Limited Runs!<\/em><\/h4>\n

    Limited Runs, the premier destination for discovering and buying the best in original vintage posters, print art and fine art photography, continues to add new items to the site every day and each week we feature some of our latest additions of original vintage film, advertising and rock posters, art prints and photography.<\/p>\n

    Also follow Limited Runs on:<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a> <\/strong>\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    As Limited Runs prepares to release the first of a series of fine art photo collections by an emerging and creative team, I met with the creators; New York based photographers Russ Ford and Reyn Soffe, to discuss the release of their first photo collection, the creative process and influences. \u00a0I quickly learned that while<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":8558,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8],"tags":[5],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.limitedruns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8553"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.limitedruns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.limitedruns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.limitedruns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.limitedruns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8553"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.limitedruns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8553\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8909,"href":"https:\/\/www.limitedruns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8553\/revisions\/8909"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.limitedruns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8558"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.limitedruns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8553"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.limitedruns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8553"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.limitedruns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8553"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}