Welcome to the Natal Better Show, I'm Paul Vogel saying and this is episode number 286.

As part of our Smithsonian Associates Art of Living Interview Series, this is going to be a fun interview. I'll tell you that right up front.

The focus of the interview is the photography of Rodney Smith, an amazing photographer.

Because this is an audio interview, I'll also say right up front,

that you will enjoy this even more if you click on our website not old

dash better.com and look at some of Rodney Smith's photography. No doubt you've

seen it either as advertising work or art or as some of the most lush

whimsical black and white with some color images that you've ever seen.

Rodney Smith passed away in 2016 but we will hear Rodney Smith's

's voice at the end of the show posthumously after we speak to Leslie Smolin.

I'll introduce Leslie Smolin in just a moment, but first let me tell you a bit more about

photographer Rodney Smith.

Rodney Smith was a prominent American photographer whose whimsical work combined portraiture

and landscapes to create these beautiful images that will surprise you.

Using only film, light, no retouching, no Photoshop, and often shooting memorable images in just one take, Rodney Smith

worked to produce an exquisite artifact, the print. Think about it. Nothing digital. Something in this day and age, it's hard to

imagine, but no special effects. And Rodney Smith knew the dark room like the back

of his hand. He was old school with a twist.

Rodney Smith was a surrealist. He loved paper. He shared his vision with a sense of

humor, optimism, and grace. Check out the photography on the site and you'll

know immediately. But you'll hear a wonderful description of Rodney Smith, his style, his work, and his working relationship from Leslie Smolin,

Rodney Smith's wife.

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