“I think print is more important now than ever,” says photographer Lenny Gerard (he/him) to the Phoblographer in an interview. “A printed photograph encapsulates the essence of a work, bearing immense significance and enduring permanence. It embodies the truest form of photography — something to be displayed, cherished, and preserved eternally.” You wouldn’t assume so about Lenny, but he’s disabled and teaches at the Braille Institute in Los Angeles. Many people don’t believe I’m legally blind by my work. Lenny represents those among us who rise to the top against what society deems incredible odds due to its structure. Would you believe that Lenny has done work for Netflix, H&M, Viacom, CBS, Paramount, DEF JAM, Out, Pride, Snapchat, Burt’s Bees, and so much more? Truly, Lenny’s story is one that’s bound to inspire any photographer who feels like they’re in a dark place and don’t know how to make their own light.
All images by Lenny Gerard. Used with permission. Please check out his website and follow him on Instagram at @lenny__gerard for more.
The Story of Lenny Gerard
From how Lenny tells his story, it seems like it was meant to be. At 8 years old, he inherited his grandfather’s camera collection. It took him a while to fall in love with photography; but what really helps here is that he had a great support system. His mom bought him the first digital Canon Rebel for his 13th birthday.
“I turned what became a hobby into a passion as I started taking pictures of my friends – dressing them up and using props to make each shoot a fashion photograph,” he shares with us. “I was very much inspired by Tyra Bank’s show ‘America’s Next Top Model,’ and often got my ideas for elaborate photoshoots from the TV show.’ Later, he used his fashion photography portfolio to get into a certificate program at UCSD at 16.
While gear undeniably plays a crucial role, I firmly believe that it’s the photographer’s eye that ultimately crafts a stunning photograph.
Lenny Gerard
From there, his work spread on Facebook, and more people hired him. It brought him to get a full-ride scholarship to Parsons School of Design in NYC. ” a pivotal moment that broadened my perspective on the vast and diverse world of photography. “At Parsons, I learned about my favorite photographers like Francesca Woodman and Man Ray,” says Lenny, calling this time a very pivotal point for him. “I even learned about some photographers that also went to Parsons who were making a name for themselves such as Ryan Mcginley, who inspired me greatly.”
These days, Lenny mostly uses a Canon EOS R5 and a 24-70mm f2.8 lens. This is all combined with speedlights, LED lights, stands, etc. “Strobe lights enable crisp, high-resolution images, while continuous lighting breathes life into motion shots and long exposures, enhancing the dynamics and bringing ambient light into every scene,” he tells us about the choice of using both.
But Lenny doesn’t limit himself. He uses everything — and that includes darkroom techniques, Photoshop and other pieces of software. “I’ve honed unique techniques, like utilizing glass, mirrors, and plexiglass to craft captivating reflections in jewelry or e-commerce shots and using Instant Film printers for both Polaroid and Instax Fujifilm to combine Photoshop renderings and photo-manipulation into analog formats,” he tells us. Indeed, we really don’t see this often.
Still, he says that these are just tools. Though they’re important, he attributes his success to masting composition, harnessing light, etc.
The Creative Process
Considering his creative background and breeding, Lenny doesn’t limit himself. “In my creative journey, the distinction between creating art in-camera and through post-processing fades into insignificance,” he tells us. “Both avenues provide an equal sense of accomplishment and joy, for each allows me to craft something meaningful from nothing. The medium doesn’t define the fulfillment; the act of creation itself is what brings satisfaction.” The whole process came from his darkroom and digital photography background.
This is part of how he’s embraced so many different processes combined with creative experimentation. While many photographers look at the world outside and try to create around that, Lenny focuses inward. He doesn’t hold himself against other trends the way that creators on Instagram do. Instead, he’s a photographer. At times, he does video work and still-motion capture work. This level of creative understanding is rarely seen and truly understood these days. Lenny doesn’t make images for an algorithm — he makes them out of genuine creative expression and doesn’t limit himself in any way — which is why his affinity for print is so important!
“Unlike the transient nature of digital images, print photography stands as a tangible manifestation of art, often framed and adorning walls with its captivating presence,” he tells us. While he makes prints and then outputs instant film prints, he also makes more traditional prints as well.
Thoughts on AI Imagery
Many photographers are worried about AI imagery. But Lenny sees it as a passing trend. And indeed, he’s got the work that stands out enough that an AI can’t mimic it. “AI-created content, while technically impressive, struggles to replicate the authenticity and depth inherent in human-made creations,” he shares. “It falls short, particularly in genres like street photography, where the human touch and true moments in time are irreplaceable. I believe the demand for genuine human-driven content remains strong, fueled by a growing awareness of the limitations and biases in AI-generated art.” All of this is said with a deeper understanding of photography as art — which I truly hope spreads to the masses in time.
Authenticity Statement
The Phoblographer works with human photographers to verify that they’ve actually created their work through shoots. These are done by providing us assets such as BTS captures, screenshots of post-production, extra photos from the shoot, etc. We do this to help our readers realize that this is authentically human work. Here’s what this photographer provided for us.
