"Documentary photography walks a fine line between empathy and exploitation. Hard to define, the struggle is present every time a project begins. In the end, a 'true' picture reflects the truth and soul of a person I am photographing and writing about. There must be an element of trust between us or the story will be incomplete. Trust allows me to be included in private moments. People know that I am their friend with or without my photography equipment.
I have this strong desire not only to take pictures, but to share the experiences of my subjects, and hopefully, to give something back to them through the act of recording their lives. Thank you to all who volunteered to tell their story, I am humbled by their courage."
Beth's biography
Beth Reynolds has been making photo-documentaries for over 18 years. In 1995 Reynolds received her MFA in photography from The Hartford Art School after receiving her BA from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. "It is my belief that I can make a difference in the lives of people who need it most with my camera."
She has exhibited award-winning documentary projects in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Florida, Kentucky and California and was selected to be the first Photographer Laureate for the city of Tampa in 2003. Through grants, commissions and self-funding Reynolds has dealt with the issues of inclusion, health care, cancer survivors, welfare, the environment, immigration, learning differences and aging. For four years she was a staff photographer for The Bristol Press Newspaper and a photographyinstructor at Tunxis Community College in Connecticut. Currently she teaches at The Arts Center in St. Petersburg, Florida, is an adjunct professor in photojournalism the University of South Florida and EckerdCollege. In 2002 she joined the United States Coast Guard Reserves to be a public affairs specialist.
Reynolds started her own publishing company in 1998, The Photo-Documentary Press, inc. and continues to photograph issues with social relevance and publish her work in fine art coffee table books. Her work is in the collection of the Ringling Museum of Art, Woodstock Center for Photography, MD Anderson Cancer Center and many private collections.
Beth has mastered the art of capturing the moment in which everything comes together. Her first book was Sisters of Courage: Survivors of Breast and Cervical Cancer (1999), it is now out of print. The second title is Captain, He Bought Eggs: Stories from a Firefighter (2001), which is close to being sold out.
For more information about Beth and her work, please visit:
www.photodocumentarypress.com
