Bio – CV. – Richard Radstone

818 | 710-9742

(818) 710-9742
inquire@richardradstone.com

BIOGRAPHY

1961: Born, London, England
1962 to 1990: Las Vegas, Nevada
1989 to 1991: Vagabond Artist
1991 to present: Los Angeles, California

My story as an artist began in the early 80s, when, after graduating from Brooks Institute of Photography, I opened my first studio in Las Vegas, Nevada—a mod little space constructed from the remains of a 3000-square foot citrus warehouse. It was there my roots formed as I worked non-stop producing, photographing, and directing projects ranging from nightlife to leisure, portraiture to lifestyle, wild animals to intricate special effects, entertainment to advertising.

I was in my mid-twenties, young, evolving, and thirsty for experience. A fresh set of eyes in a city full of energy as my business grew faster than imaginable. Not ready for the degree of success that came my way, I lived fast and fell hard. It was a decade where I grew up through experiences too numerous to share in this brief story. Bright and dark memories that, to this day, are foundation to perspectives grounding the importance I place on the value of others and artistic integrity.

In my thirties, as the Las Vegas chapter hit its pinnacle; I faced a creative, spiritual, and emotional Do-or-Die. Driven by a hunger for growth and culture, I realized I had reached a professional and personal crossroads. So, I decided to close my Las Vegas shop to travel the cities of Europe; exchanging security and predictability to live a vagabond life in further experiencing risk, history, culture, and people. It was an uncharted time, a living out of a backpack and rolling suitcase journey where I navigated a roller coaster of diverse languages, cityscapes, and customs. A week-by-week schedule of country-connecting train rides and hostel stays where each day I peeked over the edge of financial ruin. It was life-change to the fullest. My livelihood wrapped around my waist as I survived on cash pulled out of a hidden money belt. A character and spirit-forming trek that, in the end, left me homeless and stripped to the most simple lifestyle and reflections of myself. Yet, under it all, a great blessing was gifted to me—the birth of my cultural outlook, spiritual self, and storytelling curiosity.

Ultimately, I settled in the United States—home to my current chapter and base camp for my endless desire to share whatever I can in opening windows for others to better see the value of one another.

I am a firm believer of less-is-more, and although I have expanded into the complexity of photo-narrative projects, writing, speaking, filmmaking, mixed media, and podcasting, I stand true to a plain and modest purpose: To craft thoughtful works that stimulate deep consideration of what might be in the heart and mind of others, and even ourselves.

When I am not making photographs, producing films, writing, recording or working on outreach, you’ll most likely find me on the streets (or in the social/digital world) interviewing strangers; sharing what I can to make others laugh (or express a heartfelt tear) with a life found story; or doing my most favorite thing of all, spending time with my wife, daughter, and two dysfunctional dogs.

PARTIAL LIST OF COMMISSIONS
Nikon, Verizon, Publicis, Panasonic, PepsiCo, BBDO, Nestlé, Toyota, Disney Store, Botox, Johnson & Johnson, Ogilvy, Abbott Laboratories, 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures, Suave, Allergan, United Airlines, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Playstation, Disney Records, California Department of Health Services, Hill & Knowlton, Converse, Subway, Southern California Edison, FDA, Heidelberg, Abbott, Florida Department of Health Services, JWT, E-Verify, 24 Hour Fitness, San Diego Gas and Electric (SDGE), Unisource, AltaMed, US Citizenship and Immigration Services, Hilton, Xerox, FairChance, Nevada Division of Tourism, United Health Care, Hertz, Walmart, Bally’s, Cisco, FIAA, Lockheed Martin, Transamerica, UPS, Energy Star, The Richards Group, Pfizer, Procter & Gamble, FCB, Gillette, Dunlop, RPA, Home Depot, Wells Fargo, Lowe+Partners, Paramount Studios, United States Tennis Association, McCann Worldgroup, AT&T

WORKS IN PROGRESS

Sidewalk Ghosts
Born from over ten years of interviewing, photographing and filming 1000s of unique strangers, “Sidewalk Ghosts” is an ongoing documentary, storytelling and advocacy project bringing to surface the value of a human life. An integrated, multi-channel outreach of published works, speaking engagements and podcasts that move forward a most uplifting and actionable consideration. Real-life stories, observations and openhearted dialogues that entertain as they share ideas for appreciating the worth of others, a greater love for yourself, and the knowledge of just how far your individual influence does reach.

Freedom of Faith
We all have belief systems and inner motivations forming who we are. “Freedom of Faith” is a documentary film featuring the perspectives of some of the nation’s most highly esteemed religious leaders, educators, influencers, and real people just like you and I. It’s mission is to foster open and productive dialogue between people of diverse beliefs via proposing a compelling question: Perhaps it is through the recognition of others individual outlooks regarding faith and the higher power in which they are grounded, that we may better align with one another, and in the process, perhaps even better know ourselves?

Dreams
Sigmund Freud captivated crowds with his theory that dreams are manifestations of suppressed desires. A more popular consensus is that dreams do have a purpose, and this purpose is largely connected to our emotions. Or perhaps, Dreams simply serve as sort of a data dump—a clearing of the day’s useless memories and a caching of the valuable ones. Whatever they are, we do not truly know, but the mystery of dreams inspired me to document them.

CURRICULUM VITAE

SPEAKING | KEYNOTES | LECTURES
2020 – 2021: (Podcast Host) Sidewalk Ghosts
2020: (Speaker) Sidewalk Ghosts, Los Angeles Visitors Center
2019: (Speaker) Sidewalk Ghosts, Los Angeles Visitors Center
2017: (Speaker) Disconnect to Reconnect, Operation-365 Get Together, Pasadena, CA
2016: Adjunct Professor, Santa Monica College
2014: (Keynote) Fame Expo, Pasadena, CA
2014: (Speaker) Creative Integrity, Fame Expo, Pasadena, CA
2012: (Lecture) The Business of Photography & Production, Brigham Young University, Off-Campus Studio Tour
2012: (Lecturer | Trainer) Developed and instructed a field photography and motion picture training and certification course for the Joint Prisoner of War / Missing in Action Accounting Command (JPAC), United States Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Pearl Harbor
2012: (Keynote) COMPAS, Ohio State University
2011: (Lecturer | Trainer) Developed and instructed a field photography and motion picture training and certification course for the Joint Prisoner of War / Missing in Action Accounting Command (JPAC), United States Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Pearl Harbor
2011: (Lecturer | Workshop) Photo Get-Togethers, Red Gum Studios, Irvine, CA
2010: (Speaker) Creative Integrity, Cypress College
2007: (Speaker) Portraiture, Santa Monica College
2006: (Speaker) The Art of Moving Pictures, Brooks Institute
2006: (Speaker) Sponsored by American Photographic Artists, Santa Monica College
2006: (Keynote) Creative Integrity, Corbis, Los Angeles
2006: (Graduation Address) Honorary Masters Degree, Brooks Institute
2005: (Speaker) Sponsored by American Photographic Artists, Santa Monica College
2005: (Speaker) An Emotional Portrait, Brooks Institute
2005: (Speaker) Sponsored by American Photographic Artists,” Santa Monica College
2004: (Lecture) The Business of Photography & Production, Brigham Young University, Off-Campus Studio Tour
1997: (Lecture) Development, Platt Institute, Los Angeles
1997: (Lecture) Creativity, Otis Parson School of Design, Los Angeles
1994: (Lecture) Reprographics, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA

INTERVIEWS | ARTICLES | APPEARANCES
2021: (Podcast) “Artivism Now” with Kyle Roman
2020: (Interview) Shoutout LA Magazine
2020: (Interview) Artaholics Magazine
2018: (Radio) “Operation-365,” KROQ Openline with Meghan Holiday
2017: (Radio) “Operation-365,” KROQ Openline with Meghan Holiday
2014: (Radio) “Operation-365,” DIY with Karl Champley
2013: (Radio) “Views of People and Creativity,” Beauty Talk, Denise and Janice Tunnell
2013: (Interview) Pepperdine Magazine, Pepperdine
2011-2012: (Essays) “Street Interviews of Strangers,” Over 500 written for Project 365 / Sidewalk Ghosts Blog
2005: (Author) “How To Produce A Successful Ad Campaign,” Digital Imaging Techniques
2000: (Author) “Setting The Tone,” Petersen’s Photographic
1996: (Author) “Emulsion Transfer,” Popular Photography
1996: (Interview) The Telegraph, VCG-Getty Images, London, England
1987: (Author) “Fluorescent Landscapes,” Petersen’s Photographic
1986: (Interview) Las Vegas Magazine

EXHIBITS | FEATURED
2021: (Featured) Portaits – Whimsical Magazine, Paris, France
2020: (Group Exhibition) Bent Colour – James, International Color Awards
2020: (Group Exhibition) Bent Colour – Hidden, International Color Awards
2019: (Featured) Inbetween and Work, from Heal, Spotlight Magazine, Lyon, France
University, Malibu, CA
2010: (Solo Exhibition) 24 Portraits, Cypress College
1990: (Solo Exhibition) The Look, Balcar Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1987: (Published) Alcatraz, PBS
1985: (Group Exhibition) Alcatraz, Meadows Gallery, Las Vegas, NV

AWARDS | JUDGING | HONORS
2021: (Award) Still LIfe, In•an•i•mate åbjekts, Nominee, International Color Awards
2020: (Award) Portrait, Bent Colour – James, Honorable Mention, International Color Awards
2020: (Award) Fashion, Bent Colour – Hidden, Nominee, International Color Awards
2020: (Recognition of Honor) Luxembourg Art Prize
2020: (Award) Still Life – Rubbish, Nominee, Spider Awards
2018: (Award) Freedmen’s Bureau, Documentary, Silver Anvil, P.R Society of America
2018: (Special Screening) The Village, Los Angeles Temple Visitors Center
2012: (Judge) COMPAS, Ohio State University
2012: (Award) Top Ten 365-Day Blogs to Follow, WordPress
2013: (Judge) Russell Egnor Media Awards, Department of the Navy
2007: (Board of Reviewers) Graduating Class, Cal. State Northridge
2006: (Board of Reviewers) Graduating Class, Brooks Institute
2005: (VP, National Board of Directors) American Photographic Artists
2004: (Board of Reviewers) Graduating Class, Brooks Institute
2003: (Board of Directors) American Photographic Artists–Los Angeles Chapter
1999: (Board of Reviewers) Graphic Design, Otis Parson School of Design
1988: (Founding Board of Directors) Las Vegas Art Directors Club
1987: (Charter Board of Directors) Advertising Photographers of America, Las Vegas
1985: (Award) Best of Show for Alcatraz Cellblock, Kodak Gallery