Imagine being asked by a random photographer to pose with a complete stranger for a picture on the street. That is exactly what Richard Renaldi does. I discovered his talent and creativity a couple months ago while reading an article online. His most recent project is called “Touching Strangers,” a compilation of pictures of unfamiliar people across the United States in intimate poses. No, I do not mean that kind of intimate. Look at this simple picture of a guy and young girl. They do not actually know each other, yet the picture is beautiful and so genuine.
Touching Strangers Chris and Amaira; Chicago, Illinois, 2013
What I found amazing was that despite people not knowing each other, the photographs produce an intense vibe that creates a back-story in the mind. As a viewer, you get a sense of who these people are, just in the way they interact with others. I also like how raw and exposed Renaldi’s photography is. Life is indescribable, but reality does not always look picturesque. Renaldi captures people and the world in a light that is beautiful but still real. Another project of his was “Fall River Boys.” This picture of an abandoned mill shows the truth that things decay, but there always can be a way to look at something and make it new.
Fall River Boys Abandoned Mill, 2001
Renaldi’s creativity impresses me because he gets at the core of the human heart. He takes simple, clean pictures, but is able to wrap up a lot of emotion in it. People like to relate to each other and to the world around them. He proves even strangers can tell a story, and that most of the time we do not want to hear a fairy tale, but the truth. That is just it, creativity is being able to communicate and share your real life without having to dazzle it up.
You can check out more of Renaldi’s work at this link.
Idea Culture 