This article is about the American photographer. For the American singer, see Eli "Paperboy" Reed.
Ellis (Eli) Reed (born 1946) is an American photographer and photojournalist.[1][2] Reed was the first full-time black photographer employed by Magnum Agency[3] and the author of several books, including Black In America.[4] Several of the photographs from that project have been recognized in juried shows and exhibitions.[5][6]
Reed was raised in Perth Amboy, New Jersey.[1] He took his first photograph at the age of 10, documenting his mother by the Christmas tree.[3] Primarily self-taught in photography, he attributes his direction to mentor Donald Greenhaus rather than any formal studies.[8] He studied illustration at the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts, graduating in 1969.
Career
Reed became a freelance photographer in 1970. Magnum Photos became affiliated with him after the success of his work in such conflicts as the wars in Central America, the war in Lebanon (which he covered between 1983 and 1987), the 1986 Haiti coup against "Baby Doc" Duvalier, and the 1989 U.S. military action in Panama.[6] Reed became a full member of the agency in 1988. He has documented the Million Man March, Lebanon during civil war, lives of African Americans, upheaval in Zaire, U.S. military action in Panama among other things. Reed started making photographs of films and actors in 1992 and is also a member of Society of Motion Picture Still Photographers (SMPSP).[6] Reed mainly uses the Olympus E-3, E-30, and EP-1 for his work.[8]
^ abstaff. "Review: "Eli Reed, Black in America"". '"Black in America"', a succession of photographs documenting the broader picture of black life in America. Foto TV. Archived from the original on June 21, 2017. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
^Pulitzer Prize Committee. "Feature Photography". 1982 Ellis C. Reed of San Francisco Examiner For photos of life in a public housing project. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
^ abcBourne, Scott (October 4, 2009). "Interview With Eli Reed". PhotoFocus Magazine. Retrieved July 9, 2010. I am self taught but I had a wonderful mentor, Donald Greenhaus, who pointed me in the right direction I should go in. I believe that the more formal education you can receive, the better it will be for you if you have good teachers.
^ abcdMagnum Photos, Eli Reed. "biography". Retrieved 4 January 2011.