Interview with Ray Anello

 

Our guest today is Ray Anello who is recently retired from the Newsweek magazine, so it’s a real honor to speak to somebody who worked for such a prestigious publication.

Ray grew up in a traditional Italian immigrant neighborhood in New York during the 1950s and 1960s. And he says in those days everybody was on the street all the time and it shaped how he approaches photographing on the streets today.

Ray now lives in the suburbs of Los Angeles were sometimes it’s quite difficult to find good places to shoot on the street. If you’ve never been to LA, people drive everywhere and walk very little. In fact it can be downright dangerous to walk in some of the suburban areas due to the high traffic volume.

Ray is a relatively new to street photography but he has jumped in with both feet. In fact after only a few months he purchased a Leica. now that’s commitment.

Many people could be envious of Ray, because he now has plenty of time to follow his passion. In the process he recently rode the Amtrak on the West Coast to find interesting subject matter and now he’s planning other trips to further sharpen his skills.

One of Ray’s influences is William Klein. He recently wrote a very interesting article about Mr. Klein which will be published in our January issue very soon. It’s really good, so don’t miss it.

But in the meantime sit back grab a beverage and and listen to Ashley and I speak with Ray Anello.

Some Recent Photos of Ray’s from his Beach Light project

About Ray Anello

I’m a photographer and writer living in Venice Beach, California. My current project is to continue shooting Venice Beach and Santa Monica. I’m fascinated by the beach light and how it affects everything and everyone. When I’m not shooting I’m writing a memoir of my childhood growing up in New York. As a boy I lived in a vibrant, immigrant Italian neighborhood. An experience that has had a lasting effect on me. It definitely has given me a keen sense of the street and why it matters.