Ron Foster
National Geographic + The New Yorker Published Photographer
Adobe Image Contributor
Getty Image Contributor
me
I am a professional photographer and interior designer, located in New York City. I have a love for the beauty of architecture, design, and travel. I enjoy experiencing different activities such as trying new foods, cycling, and connecting with other cultures. Life for me is all about truly living my dreams in real time. I am happy to be a global citizen because I have a passion for sharing our diverse, wonderful, and complex world through photography.
bio
One Winter morning in 2016 after returning home from Lagos, Nigeria, I sat at my dining room table. I looked out the window, and ponder these thoughts: Ron, are you living your life to its fullest potential, what is your purpose now, and what is next?
I graduated from St Francis College here in New York City with a degree in Aviation Business Studies and a Minor in History. I spent more than a decade working in the Financial Sector and more than that working in Retail as a Visual Merchandiser. I began to see at that point, my career had become a dead-end. I wanted to do more with my life. I wanted to make an impact on the world. I felt a calling to be the change I sought. I no longer could just live life routinely.
" I wanted to do more with my life. I wanted to make an impact on the world. I felt a calling to be the change I sought. I no longer could just live life routinely." - Ron Foster
For many years I lived simply to travel the world but at first, my world was no bigger than America. I have traveled 40 out of the 50 states and enjoyed the hobby of photographing my destinations. But in 2008 I began to travel internationally and never looked back. Now after visiting almost 20 countries and counting, I have fallen in love with the diversity of humanity and experienced its multitudes of cultures. I have become more aware of our effect on climate change, ecosystems, and wildlife. I then realized that I could turn my hobby into a profession to bring awareness to causes that are committed to improving our environmental protections, humanity (equality and justice), and wildlife conservation.
After attending every free, “sometimes paid”, photography training event in NYC over nine months in 2016; in the late Autumn of the same year, I handed in my resignation. One week later I landed on the African continent to embark upon my journey to become a professional photographer. I spent three months nonstop photographing five countries in the African southern region and two countries in the Middle East. My goal is to share my visual story of the world.
In the Spring of 2017, I returned home to creatively build my photography business by participating in networks and collaborating with other entrepreneurs. I am currently an ambassador for the Manhattan Chambers of Commerce, a member of the Brooklyn Soloist, and a Member of SCORE NYC.
My work has been published in The New Yorker, National Geographic, Getty Images, The sun, Adobe, American Cancer Society, HSBC, The Patch, The Bklyner, NYCGO, Ikonic Magazine, and Our Time Press. I've been interviewed by EJ Way, Still Focus, and My Local Heroes. I lectured for Touro College and Berkeley College. Recently my photo focusing on civil justice was on exhibition at “Capture the Movement” and “Brooklyn Resist”.
I currently reside in Brooklyn, New York working on several projects about equality and justice in America during COVID-19. I am also teaching basic photography virtually and in person. I am the volunteer photographer for the Fort Greene Association.
"Photography is my passion and so I will continue to share the world's visual stories." - Ron Foster
The journey continues...
photography skills
Architecture + Design: Interiors + Exteriors
Engagements + Wedding Proposals
Events: Branding, Business, Concerts, Parties, Family Reunion, Funerals, Fairs, Speaking, Awards, Graduation + Proms
Photojournalism
Portraits: Head + Full Body Photo Sessions
Street
Travel
International travels
I have been fortunate to capture some wonderful images from these amazing places. There is no place too far for me to journey to photograph the world’s stories.
Barbados
Bermuda
Botswana
Canada
Costa Rica
Dubai
Ghana
Great Britain
France
Iceland
Italy
Malta
Mexico
Namibia
Nigeria
Qatar
South Africa
Spain
Zambia
Zimbabwe
projects
African Destinations
African Interior Designs
Avalonic Rooms
American Cancer Society: Mean Wear Pink
Beyond Potential - Live Life Your Way Radio Show
Brooklyn Conservatory of Music
Brooklyn Fashion Week
Compass
Fort Greene Association
Fort Greene Flings
Fort Greene Historic House Tour
Fort Greene Soul Summit
Genesis Fertility
HSBC Bank: CERG
IIDA NY Equity Council
Kohler
LMNOP: Leadership Mentoring Networking + Professionals
Lunch Lady
Manhattan Chamber of Commerce
Montreal Jazz Festival
NY Fashion Weeks
Photoville
Society Fashion Week: NYC
Solutions NOW
South African Wildlife
StylePointe Dance Theater
The Riant Theatre Strawberry One-Act Festival
on exhibition
Brooklyn Resist, 2021
Icelandic Volcano Eruption, CAfED, 2022,
Black Expressions, CAfED, 2023
Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Plaza, 2020
Salon on Kingston, 2020
Bronx River Art Center, 2021
Bowdoin College, 2022
periodicals
The New Yorker
National Geographic
Interior Design Magazine
Manhattan Lifestyle Magazine
The Sun: South Africa
Bklyner
Our Times Press
Patch
NYGO
Exalte Magazine
Ikonic Magazine
interviews
MediaScope: Season 8 Episode 4 Massive! Hey, it's going to be an exciting edition of the show, as we get to welcome photographer extraordinaire and host of Touch Base Daily, Ron Foster @ronlouisphotos! Join us as we talk about his fantastic photography and video journeys and take questions and comments from you!
Friday Conversations with Christ Edwards: Fridays guest Ron Foster
Episode 6 NYC Public Activist Photographer Ron Foster by Still Focus
Ron and I talk about how the camera found him, traveling to Africa after choosing to quit his job to do so. We also dive into why photography and being a photographer are important to him. I hope you enjoy this episode… by Alan Sherer on August 21, 2020. To listen to the podcast
“My Local Heroes” Facebook.com 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 ..., by Eleanor Traubman on July 22, 2020. Continue Reading
EJ Way, Tuesday Night Live - Creative Entrepreneurs (with Ron Foster) On the next episode of Tuesday Night Live we have special guest Ron Foster joining us to discuss his journey about an issue many people face when it comes to creative skills, which is how to turn them into paid jobs. -Osi Ejiofor on July 21, 2020, For Viewing on YouTube
educational speaking
Touch Base Daily
Mount Vernon High School
Turo College
Berkeley College
Manhattan Chamber of Commerce Business Referral Group
Workforce Professionals Training Institute
Futures and Options
public speaking
Manhattan Chamber of Commerce
Australian Consult, NYC