antarctica
A humpback whale breaches in Antarctica © Reuben Hernandez
Yesterday was World Antarctica Day, celebrating the day the Antarctic Treaty was signed. Dad once told me he was envious that I got sent to photograph Antarctica and would live vicariously through me. The wildlife in Antarctica is so beautiful, raw, and uninhibited. I keep coming back to this photograph and can’t help but think of my dad and how he pushed me to explore, photograph, and document beauty.
One of the single most defining moments of the past decade was when I quit my job, started my own company, and moved to NYC. It was one of the most difficult and best decisions I have ever made. That was nearly 10 years ago, and it has led me to numerous opportunities that I had only dreamed of such as landing in Antarctica, photographing great white sharks breach, and seeing the aurora borealis dance above me and light up the Arctic sky. That decision also led me to meeting my wife Lisa in my Brooklyn neighborhood and to becoming a father to Leuca last year, which has been a wonderful and beautiful journey.
It’s difficult to summarize an entire decade, so I will share some of my favorite experiences and work over the last ten years.
Antarctica © 2015 Reuben Hernandez
Landing in Antarctica was a really big deal for me. I had dreamed of visiting Antarctica ever since I was in fourth grade and Antarctica also marked my seventh and final continent. It is transcendent and truly like no place on earth. This is one of many images I photographed as photographer in residence onboard an expedition ship. Dreams do come true. That’s what I would tell my childhood self.
Great white shark breaching in South Africa © 2015 Reuben Hernandez
This photograph was taken in False Bay, South Africa and speaks for itself. This happened in about a split second so you can imagine how challenging of a photograph this was to capture. The is one of the images I am most proud of and I still can’t believe I got the shot. I was freaking out afterwards. Sharks are awesome creatures and I’ve always wanted to see a great white shark breach.
Mother and cub polar bears in Svalbard, Arctic Norway © 2014 Reuben Hernandez
In 2014 I had the opportunity to be a photographer in residence onboard an expedition ship in Svalbard, Arctic Norway. We spotted these polar bears from our ship from about 300 meters and our expedition leader decided that we would jump in zodiacs to get a closer look. The seawater was torrential and we were getting absolutely soaked by the waves smashing against the front of our zodiacs as we raced towards the polar bears. Luckily the bears remained and we got to observe them closer from our zodiacs. This was also a challenging photograph to capture with a long lens on a zodiac that was rocking up and down. I have a print of this photograph in my daughter Leuca’s room, and it definitely has a new meaning for me being a parent.
Rifle master Tom Smith searching for polar bears in Svalbard, Arctic Norway © 2014 Reuben Hernandez
The Milky Way rising above the Atacama Desert, Chile © 2015 Reuben Hernandez
On my way to Antarctica I spent some time in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile in hopes of photographing the Milky Way. It was quite an adventure to say the least. I spent a few weeks waiting for the rain and full moon to pass as I foolishly didn’t check the phases of the moon beforehand. The Atacama Desert is supposed to be one of the driest places on earth so I was surprised by the rain. I woke up each morning at about 3 am and rode my bike alone out into the desert. It was a bit unnerving and extremely desolate and dark. It was also humbling and peaceful to see so many stars and stand beneath billions of galaxies. This is a self portrait I captured underneath the Milky Way.
BBC Travel © 2018 Reuben Hernandez
Last year I was commissioned by BBC Travel to cover a story for their To the Ends of the Earth series. I had the opportunity to visit Supai, the only US town that receives its mail by mule train and is only accessible by hiking eight miles into the Grand Canyon or by helicopter. I hiked more than 20 miles off the grid carrying 40 - 50 lbs of photo and video gear, food, and camping supplies for this story. It was a challenging story and an adventure to say the least, and the Havasupai Falls are one of the most beautiful natural wonders I have ever seen. Check out the full story and interview with tribal elder Rex Tilusi here.
Red Nose Day The Ultimate Definitive Multi-Celebrity Plea (feat. everyone we know)
I directed Bono in the above Red Nose Day celebrity PSA. Spike Jonze showed up and thanked me for allowing him to help out. It was pretty wild meeting Bono and Spike, two creative forces I have looked up to.
Maddie, my narrative directorial debut, had its online premiere earlier this year on Film Shortage after screening at several film festivals and winning a few awards. You can watch the film above (TRT: 11 min). I love the collaborative process of making films and have had the pleasure of working with some incredibly talented casts and crews. I’ve since directed two other narrative short films and joined the Filmshop collective, where we workshop works in progress, foster collaboration, and help bring each other’s projects to life.
I’m grateful to be in my 10th year of business, creating work that I believe is meaningful both personally and professionally. This year I’m proud to be certified as a NYC minority-owned business enterprise. 2020 and beyond will be a new and exciting chapter for Reuben Hernandez Studios. Thank you to all of my clients, friends, family, and collaborators that have supported and believed in me over the last decade. I wouldn’t be here without you.
My daughter Leuca is growing up so fast I can hardly believe it. Yesterday she turned 15 months old. She brings us so much love and joy and is an absolute beast. She’s been doing baby parkour and ran laps around the airplane last week. She keeps us on our toes and never ceases to amaze us. Leuca has given me a new purpose as a working dad.
Happy Holidays! Love, Lisa, Leuca, and Reuben
A year ago I wrote “Going forward I'll have to live a more structured life to prioritize my time between family, work, personal projects, and exercise/dance/self-care.” I think I did a pretty good job over the past year. I’ve come a long way and I know there’s always room for improvement. We had a family vacation planned earlier this year that I had to cut short for a job in LA. I know it was the right decision and I’m learning how to make sacrifices and that often times things just do not go as planned. I’m relearning how important family is. My dad hasn’t been doing very well and I’m happy that Leuca got a chance to meet him and see him a few times this year. It’s important for Leuca to know her family history and where she came from. My dad’s illness has brought my family closer together in unexpected ways. I want to continue to cherish each moment I spend with Leuca and my family and love them as much as I can.
It’s past 1 am and I actually have to film a job on NYE so I best be going. If you made it this far, thanks for following along. Wishing you love, peace, and Happy New Year. See you in 2020!
All My Best,
Reuben
Reuben Hernandez | 2019 Director’s Reel
I’m excited to share my new director’s reel featuring some of my film work over the last five years. A huge shoutout to my cast, crews, supporters, and collaborators that have helped bring these projects to life. Thanks for watching.
Filmed on location in NYC, Antarctica, Arctic Norway, Chile, and Yellowknife
One of the final images I captured on my beloved Canon 5D mark II, on assignment in Antarctica
I did it. I sold my first DSLR camera, the Canon 5D mark II, which changed the course of my life. I didn’t realize how emotionally attached I’d become to this camera. I’m sure some of you can relate.
My trusty 5DII traveled with me to all seven continents, from Africa to Antarctica, and never ever let me down. It helped me forge a new path, realize my dream of doing what I love for a living (after I quit my last and only full time job 7 years ago), and led me to places that I only dreamed of such as Antarctica.
This is where it all began for me and I’m happy to pass the torch onto the next person/generation of photographers. Thanks to photographers Miah Klein and Matthew Morgan who helped guide me after I decided to jump in and purchase this camera 8 years ago. Long live the 5D mark II!
#antarcticaordie
(at Antarctica)
2016 A Year in Review
As I write this, it’s hard to believe that I’m approaching my six year anniversary of living in NYC.
2016 was an interesting year, to say the least. A lot of people can’t wait for it to be over. I learned a thing or two and some memorable experiences include:
Antarctica premiered in NYC earlier this year and screened at a handful of film festivals.
Beauty, Balance, and Grace premiered in Paris, France.
I had the opportunity to film Bono this year for a PSA for the Red Nose Day campaign. Spike Jonze randomly showed up and then thanked me for allowing him to help out. It was surreal. Bono and his crew were so gracious and kind and it was truly a pleasure to work with them. I’ve looked up to Bono for many years so it was such an honor to meet him.
This year I wrote and directed my first narrative short film, Maddie, that will premiere next year. I’m so thankful for my talented cast and crew that worked so hard on this project and gave so much. Writing is a new creative process for me, and I’ve learned that I can do it even out of necessity. It was an empowering experience to own a project completely from start to finish, and to learn firsthand that anything is possible. So many elements of this film seemed impossible and daunting at first, but we somehow pulled it off. People helped out from near and far and I’m truly grateful for all the support. We look forward to sharing Maddie on the big screen in 2017 so stay tuned for upcoming screenings.
I spent two months abroad in Europe this summer, working on post production for Maddie and recovering. Production on Maddie gave me a serious ass kicking so it was a much needed breath of fresh air to spend the summer away from NYC.
One of my major takeaways from 2016 is that if you have a creative vision/idea that you believe in, then you just need to go for it and figure it out along the way. Some people thought that making Maddie would not be possible, but deep down I believed in my vision and was absolutely determined to see it through. I also learned a hell of a lot along the way, which will be invaluable.
See you next year.
All My Best,
Reuben
Antarctica screens tonight at @anthologyfilmarchives in NYC at 8:45 pm.
Info:
Hope you can make it out!
#antarcticaordie
(at Anthology Film Archives)
ANTARCTICA | Brooklyn Short Film Festival
I’m excited to announce my film, Antarctica, will be screening at the Brooklyn Short Film Festival next Thursday, June 16th at 7:30 pm at the Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg, Brooklyn! The programmers tell us the screening will definitely sell out so be sure to get your tickets early.
Tix/info:
https://brooklynshorts.ticketleap.com/2016-brooklyn-short-film-festival-b/
Trailer:
https://vimeo.com/161488191
I hope to see you there!
Warmly,
Reuben
Happy Earth Day 🌍✌️ #antarcticaordie
(at Antarctica)Check out this interview I did for my Antarctica film premiere next week. Below are some excerpts and the full interview is here: https://www.nycindieff.com/film/antarctica
Interview by Kerby Pierre.
KP: Thank you Reuben for taking the time to answer some questions for us. Your film is very unique. What inspired you to film this exotic short?
RH: I had a strong feeling that visiting Antarctica, my final continent, would be a significant life experience. I wanted to memorialize the journey in a special, meaningful way. I was inspired by Ron Fricke’s time-lapse work in Samsara, and the one second a day sequence in the movie, Chef.
KP: The film shows NYC, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Antarctica. Why did you choose those five locations?
RH: The film begins and ends in NYC, which is where I live now. Argentina is where we embark on the Antarctic expedition ship, and I also wanted to visit the Salar de Uyuni (salt flats) in Bolivia, and photograph the Milky Way rise above the Atacama Desert in Chile, one of the driest places on earth.
KP: Of all the vast landscapes of these five diverse countries how did you narrow it down to two minutes?
RH: It was incredibly challenging to film every single day, especially on the boring days where not much was happening, such as travel days or days at sea. I really had to reach and try and find beauty in the mundane, and editing it down to just one second a day was extremely difficult. There are a lot of beautiful shots that didn’t make the final cut.
KP: What do you want the audience to get from this beautifully shot short?
RH: There is beauty everywhere, even in the mundane. Antarctica, the largest wilderness area in the world, transformed and forever changed me. Never in my entire life have I been in such close proximity to so much wildlife and such raw, untouched beauty. It humbled me because it is like no other place on earth. I hope these images will have a lasting impact and inspire others to protect and safeguard the future of our planet.
Join me next week for the world premiere of my film, ANTARCTICA, screening at the NYC Independent Film Festival on Wednesday, April 27th at 4:15 pm.
Trailer: http://reubenhernandez.com/antarctica-trailer
Tickets and info: https://www.nycindieff.com/session/art-experimental-films-sessions-1
I look forward to seeing you there!
ANTARCTICA Trailer
I’m excited to announce my short film, ANTARCTICA, will premiere at the NYC Independent Film Festival on Wednesday, April 27th at 4:15 pm, and will screen along with 8 other shorts.
Trailer: http://reubenhernandez.com/antarctica-trailer
Info and tickets: https://www.nycindieff.com/session/art-experimental-films-sessions-1
I would be so honored if you came out and/or invited anyone that would be interested. I look forward to seeing you there!
Warmly,
Reuben
| 10:33 PM |
Iceberg # 13
#antarcticaordie
(at Antarctica)
Tiny Beautiful Things
#antarcticaordie #marchofthepenguins
(at Antarctica)
| changes |
Contemplating these words today:
“Try not to resist the changes that come your way. Instead let life live through you. And do not worry that your life is turning upside down. How do you know that the side you are used to is better than the one to come?”
- Rumi
#antarcticaordie
(at Antarctica)
“He who seeks beauty will find it.” - Bill Cunningham
#antarcticaordie #iamnature
(at Antarctica)
“Run from what’s comfortable. Forget safety. Live where you fear to live. Destroy your reputation. Be notorious.”
- Rumi
#antarcticaordie
(at Antarctica)
In honor of #Jonas, here’s one of my favorite images from last month’s Antarctic expedition
#antarcticaordie #❄️
(at Antarctica)
| 10:41 PM |
Mik, Camping Master
Antarctica
#antarcticaordie
(at Antarctica)
A look back at my #bestnine2015 curated by you
#sharkaholic #antarcticaordie
| MY FIRST NEW YORK |
Exactly 5 years ago today, I fulfilled my long time dream of moving to New York City. I remember it was in the middle of one of those record breaking snowstorms, and there were massive piles of snow everywhere. I was officially homeless crashing at my little brother’s apartment, had zero work lined up, was fresh off of a breakup, had very little money in my bank account, and I was searching Craigslist for photography jobs feeling defeated and wondering, “What the hell did I just do?!!”
Back then I had no way of knowing that taking that leap of faith and moving to NYC would lead me to Antarctica, many other meaningful adventures, and love. Looking back I do know that jumping off the cliff and moving to NYC has been one of the best decisions I have ever made.
This is a photograph of me after we crossed the Antarctic Circle during my first trip to Antarctica last season, and probably one of the most raw and honest photos you will ever see of me. My face is freezing, but I am happy and fulfilled, ready for anything.
#antarcticaordie
(at Antarctica)