The day after the rioting and the looting of stores in SoHo, the Lower East Side, the Bowery, and Union Square in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, Ron Foster spent three days straight – from sunup to sundown – biking around and photographing every single store whose protective boards had been marked by the work of an artist. Knowing that two weeks later, when the stores began to reopen, this beautiful "art of protest" would come down and be lost, he wanted to make sure he had documented everything. "It was a calling," shares Ron. "I had to do it."
Ron Foster embodies a zest for life that is both inspiring and contagious. Well before most of us have even eaten breakfast, he’s often on Instagram live having already completed a 10+ mile long bike ride and ready to start connecting to his clients and sharing his photographs with the world. He posts his work under the hashtag of #artofprotest.
Ron, who lives in Clinton Hill, is both a professional interior designer and photographer, as well as a mentor to other photographers. He leads the RLP Urban Meetup Group,which has a membership of 500+ plus photographers, and is also the volunteer photographer for the Fort Greene Association. Ron has traveled to about 20 countries and has cultivated a wide network of personal and professional relationships.
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Ron has spent countless hours photographing protests, rallies, and marches in support of racial justice. He recalls photographing at a protest of five thousand people and being awed not just by the sheer number of people, but also by the diversity in skin color, age, and economic class. "There were the old, young, babies, grandmas and grandpas, rich and poor," he shares. "It was a beautiful sight. I had to stop taking photographs at one point so that I could take it all in."
Another protest that stands out for Ron was a gathering of "Asians for Black Lives Matter," an event that was important given the difficulties that these groups have had connecting.. [Editor's note: Please see this great piece on Black-Asian relations: https://www.npr.org/sections/c... ]
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According to Ron, the art form to which he has dedicated his life “plays a big role in history. We photographers are the eyes of the world so that people can see what is going on. We transport people to places that they may not be able to go. [...] One photo can change someone's opinion, but you don't know which photo it is. My goal is to inspire even one person to stand up and be or do something greater. I want to create that one image that stands out and causes people to pause, think, and act."
Through his photos, Ron hopes to offer more than physical images. "If you can capture the emotion - the essence of the moment, and the historical value of the moment, then you have something special, not just a regular photo. I am looking for the emotion, the expression, the story backdrop behind the images. I try to tell a visual story and let the universe create the rest."
When people ask Ron how they can have an impact on the movement for racial justice, how they can get involved, he advises, "Just show up and do something. Photography is what I can do. I document the events through photography. Not everyone can march, but everyone can do something from where their strengths are."
Ron's interest in photography and social change has its roots in his younger years. He remembers his parents and relatives talking about the Civil Rights Movement, as well as how most of the images from that time show black protestors and white officers. "Those images that showed black folks being brutally assaulted by white crowds and police officers were the ones which gave way to the awakening of America's conscience and changed people's emotions towards equality and justice," shares Ron. "Nine years later, the Civil Rights Act was signed." He adds: "The journey to civil rights and true equality is not a speedy one, but rather a long marathon where one generation passes the baton to the next".
In addition, Ron's grandfather and father, a Black Panther, both loved cameras. Ron remembers growing up in a house full of old cameras, photographs, and National Geographic magazines, being fascinated by them, and understanding the importance of documentation. At age 17, he became his church's first official photographer and loved the job.
After following a career path that included work in the aviation industry, the financial sector, and visual merchandising, Ron hit a turning point when one friend told him, "You need to take your photography seriously," and another advised that "You need to start selling your photography NOW!" He asked his workplace if he could take 3 weeks off to go to Africa to photograph the African Southern Region - South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. When Ron's employers denied his request to pursue this once in a lifetime opportunity, he quit his job and proceeded to rearranged his work and financial life to allow him to spend three months in Africa. "I said 'Yes' to the call and the universe opened up,' Ron explains. "You never know how your life will unfold unless you take that leap of faith."
Today, Ron is a National Geographic published photographer and runs RonLous Designs interior design firm, and RonLouis Photos. He has this to say about the turbulent times that we live in now: "I am moved by what is going on. America is living through one of its greatest chapters; it is a turning point for our country. As a nation, we are finally dealing with racism. It is painful, but it brings me joy. We will, as a nation, overcome."
Ron shares this final reflection about his art and his life: "I am grateful to live each day as a photographer. I received this as an ability and as a gift and it is my responsibility and obligation to give this gift back to the world."
Thank you, Ron, for sharing your gift with the world and for reflecting back to us our humanity and capacity for both personal and societal change.
To see Ron's documentation of protests and protest art through photos and videos, visit him on Facebook and Instagram @ronlouisphotos
Website: https://www.ronlouisphotos.com...
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