• Interview: Ben Rayner
  • Posted 3 months ago by Jack Lowe · Art & Design · photography · 1945 Views

  • In the lead up to the launch of photographer Ben Rayner's new book (UN)FAMILIAR at HUH. Store tomorrow night, we got in touch with the man himself and asked him a few questions about the project.

    HUH.: To start with, could you just introduce your new book, (UN)FAMILIAR, to us?
    Ben Rayner: I spent a lot of time working in different cities last year, probably every two weeks or so. I was constantly travelling, either alone or with someone I knew. This series is made up from photographs I took in unfamiliar places, finding something familiar in them, be it a person or something else.

    HUH.: Did you always have a series in mind when you started shooting in different cities, or did it just kind of come together?
    BR: I didn't pre plan this at all. I just noticed a pattern after a while of things I was taking pictures of and a theme running through all of the photos. Nick (Greenbank - the publisher) just emailed me and said he was starting a thing and wanted to do a book. He actually helped with the order of the book quite a bit. He really helped the flow of the images and added some really nice design touches.

    HUH.: What was your favourite city to shoot in?
    BR: There was some cool stuff in Austin, TX. San Francisco is one of my favourite places too.

    HUH.: You're moving to New York soon, right?
    Yeah, I'm going to be based between London and New York. I've been going back and forth for a few years now. Pretty regularly. I figured I can just go back and forth the opposite way. Plus I've lived in London my whole life so it's a nice change. I'll be in London all the time anyway.

    HUH.: Is NY part of your unfamiliar series? It won't be so unfamiliar soon…
    BR: There are some photos from NYC, but not so many.

    HUH.: Are you bored of shooting in London now?
    BR: Not at all. There's lots of London, and it's constantly evolving. I feel like my personal work changes a lot when I'm in a new place as you are constantly seeing new things, maybe that's why most of it isn't always in London anymore.

    HUH.: And how about plans for future projects?
    BR: I have a few plans that have been in the back of my head for a few years. I just need to sort them out. I can't really tell you what they are though [laughs].

    HUH.: Well, we're looking forward to it!
    BR: Awesome. Thanks so much. Should be a good fun event tomorrow.

    www.benrayner.com

    • I imagine all the negative comments come from lazy under achievers that are envious of those that actually put themselves out there and produce work. I wonder how much of your work has been published in vogue / printed on a global cover of VICE?
    • carole
    • 03 March 12
    • the winner of the worst photobook of 2012. (if you can even call it that) oh wait I heard jonnie craig is having a new book out soon, im sure that'll be the winner
    • mr disappointed
    • 26 February 12
    • i dont get it. where is the talent? im not writing this to talk shit, but i just went through his website and didnt see a single photograph that stood out. its ok to make snapshots of people and places and call it fashion... but if you do, the photographs should have some other element that makes it stand out. maybe he just knows the right people. Im very surprised that HUH is giving him this much credit. he must be a good friend.
    • colby
    • 26 February 12
    • don't think it's that frustrating when you're raking in the $$$ shooting for apple and nike
    • jonny
    • 25 February 12
    • This guy is trying so hard, it must be so frustrating when you have no talent. Average work that has been flooding the internet for the past 5 years.
    • Adam
    • 25 February 12
    • picked up a copy at the launch. it looks amazing! another great series.
    • jason
    • 24 February 12
    • Bens Photos are true life, never mediocre. A brilliant talent, keep at it Ben
    • mossie
    • 24 February 12
    • Such a weak concept, it's basically just a front to publish some snapshots he has taken. It's quite embarresing he is even trying to pretend they are a series. You can't fool people that easily, mate.
    • Roger
    • 24 February 12
    • This is pretty poor stuff, absolutely no talent involved here. Very disappointing.
    • Allan
    • 23 February 12
    • I like them, they have an honesty about them. Very different to his work for Nike or glossy magazines
    • Chrissie
    • 23 February 12
    • yeah this is super mediocre
    • Beau
    • 23 February 12
    • less than litlle is nothing, Streetphotografy without results
    • florian adler
    • 23 February 12
    • the cover photo is wank, student average.
    • rachel
    • 23 February 12
    • Well average!
    • Hugh
    • 23 February 12
    • Finding the familiar in the unfamiliar....or the unfamiliar in the familiar....? Wishy washy concept for some mediocre pictures that are starved for something to pin them down.
    • Max
    • 23 February 12
    • I like Ben's photographs. Bought a T4 off him a few months ago too...
    • michael
    • 22 February 12
    • over glorified holiday album of nothing that special.
    • rob
    • 22 February 12
    • More snapshots of nothing............
    • Yawn
    • 22 February 12
    • good read
    • paul
    • 22 February 12
    • basically the same work he's always made?
    • ryan
    • 22 February 12
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