I was a DP for these short videos directed by Adam Sjöberg showcasing the making of WAVE. PARTICLE. DUPLEX. by Studio SWINE at A/D/O by MINI. It was challenging lighting the red and yellow rooms, while maintaining the integrity of the exhibit.
”From August 2018 through January 2019, acclaimed designers Alexander Groves + Azusa Murakami -- aka Studio SWINE -- participated in a design residency at A/D/O by MINI. This film by director, Adam Sjöberg, documents their research and exploration that culminated in a site-specific exhibition of their works entitled Wave. Particle. Duplex. at A/D/O in Brooklyn, NY.”
Read more about the making of WAVE. PARTICLE. DUPLEX. here and here.
Directed by Adam Sjöberg
Cinematography by Adam Sjöberg and Reuben Hernandez
Gaffer John Hudak
G&E Swing Milton De La Cruz
Produced by Loose Luggage Media
Fatherhood /
MoMA PS1
New Studio Cart /
Who needs a studio cart when you have a baby stroller
Maddie Online Premiere /
I’m excited to announce my short film Maddie premieres online today on Film Shortage! Huge thanks to our cast and crew that worked so hard to bring this project to life, and to all of you that supported our film. Please consider sharing, leaving a comment, and/or liking on Vimeo. After watching the film, you can read my director’s statement to learn more about the inspiration and backstory. I recommend watching the film with good sound if possible.
There once was a time when I thought making this film would be impossible. I learned so much through the process and that ultimately anything is possible with the right team, hard work, and dedication. To my talented cast and crew, it was an honor working with you and making this film together.
Thanks for watching.
All My Best,
Reuben
2018 A Year in Review /
2018 was a life changing year because I became a father and embarked on one of my greatest adventures. Leuca Louise was born on September 30th, 2018 and it was the most remarkable experience I have ever had. I couldn’t help but cry the moment she was born. We’ve experienced so much love and beauty with Leuca. Yesterday she turned three months old, and I cherish every moment I spend with her and can’t believe how fast she’s growing. Being self employed has allowed me to spend quality time with her almost everyday, and I’m absolutely grateful for that. I love taking her to the movies and taking her for walks around the neighborhood in her carrier. She usually passes out from the body heat. Time is finite and something that I can’t make up, so I want to be intentional about how I’m spending and prioritizing it.
Earlier this year I was commissioned by BBC Travel to do a photo and video 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 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.
I traveled to Yellowknife, Canada near the Arctic Circle and photographed the Aurora Borealis for the first time, which has been at the top of my bucket list for quite a while. I was absolutely mesmerized by the aurora and seeing the green, magenta, red, and blue colors dance above me for several days was transcendent and beyond description. Photographing in 0 degree temperatures was challenging and much colder than the temperatures I experienced in Antarctica! I am currently developing a big project related to this and more on that to come…
I joined Filmshop, a film collective committed to developing new work through peer support and collaboration. We meet weekly to workshop works in progress and to help bring each other’s projects to life. It has been invaluable being part of a community of like minded creatives and has forced me to be productive creatively. I directed a narrative short film, which was very much a Filmshop collaboration, and it will premiere on the big screen next year. Leuca even made it to one of our Filmshop meetings! Work has been steady and I issued my 300th invoice this year.
My biggest takeaway this year is that life is beautiful and miraculous in a way that I have never experienced. Seeing Leuca being born and spending time with her has been extraordinary and wonderful. It's hard to believe that a year ago Leuca didn't exist. Now that she's here, my priorities have shifted and I must live in the present moment more than ever. I'm learning to be patient and focus on the big things that matter in life. According to my Dad Day instructor, being patient with Leuca is one of the most important things I could do for her development (patience is also required in many aspects of my work). He also said to be on time and I could definitely work on that. Our time is valuable and finite, and some would argue it's the most valuable thing we have to give. I don’t want Leuca to look back and wish I was around more. 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.
Much love, peace, and Happy New Year to you all.
All My Best,
Reuben
Brooklyn, Brooklyn take me in /
The view of North Williamsburg from the 30th floor
NYC Summer 2018 /
NYC Summer 2018
Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa - Brand Video /
Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa - Brand Video
Director - Andrew Klein
Director of Photography - Reuben Hernandez
Underwater Photography - Andrew Klein & Reuben Hernandez
Editor - William Zitser
Color - Jenny Montgomery, Company 3
Filmshop Presents Unfinished Business /
This past spring season I was accepted as a member of the Filmshop collective, a supportive community of filmmakers that regularly collaborate, workshop, and provide constructive feedback on works in progress on a weekly basis. Filmshop members actively support each other to help bring each other’s projects to life. Filmmaking can sometimes feel isolating, so joining a likeminded community of creatives has been one of the best things for my professional growth. It has forced me to do more and work on passion projects more regularly. Each week we share a creative goal and try to hold each other accountable on a consistent basis. This has been one of my most productive seasons as a filmmaker, and being part of the Filmshop community is one of the best ways to get a film completed. There are a tremendous amount of resources available through Filmshop.
This upcoming Saturday, July 21st at 7 pm, is Filmshop's yearly showcase of short films at Rough Trade NYC in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The latest film that I directed will screen this Saturday along with other Filmshop films on the big screen. Our film was written by Brady Evan Walker, and edited and colored by Patrice D. Bowman, so it is truly a collaborative Filmshop effort. Our lead, Jonathan Randell Silver, played the lead in a Sundance short film this year and it was a joy to work with him along with the rest of our cast and crew. Some behind the scenes photos are below. We look forward to sharing our new film with you on the big screen! Tickets can be purchased in advance here, and use code "Filmshop" for 20% off.
If you or anyone you know is interested in becoming a Filmshop member, we are hosting an open house for prospective members tonight from 7 - 9 pm (Monday 7/16) at the Made in NY Media Center by IFP (30 John Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201) in Dumbo. Applications for the 2018 fall season are due next Monday, 7/23 and can be found here.
In other news, I am also in the middle of developing an exciting and immersive virtual reality project that I have workshopped at Filmshop. My team and I are currently applying for grants and will hopefully have some news to share soon. More on that later...
BTS photo by Nikolai Basarich
BTS photo by Nikolai Basarich
BTS photo by Lars Fuchs
BTS photo by Lars Fuchs
2018 NBC Upfront /
It's been a bit hectic lately with various projects in the pipeline (more about that in the next post) and I actually just flew back from Aspen tonight. Above is a video my team and I filmed, edited, and produced of the 2018 NBC Upfront, and a funny video of me accidentally photobombing the red carpet (video up top). It's a blast interacting with the NBC talent on the red carpet. Executive produced by Jeff Smith and HudsonGray.
NYC Seascape /
Today was nearly 100 degrees in NYC so we hit the beach. Here's a foggy seascape from our ferry ride over to Rockaway beach. It got quite lively today during the Colombia and England round of 16 World Cup match.
Aurora Borealis 3.14.18 /
GHOST DANCE 3.14.18
My first aurora image, out of 6,400 total images. I'll never forget this night, and the following several nights after. I looked up towards the sky, and the green, magenta, red, and blue aurora danced above us for several hours. This image is meaningful because it has been on the top of my bucket list to see and photograph the aurora for quite some time. The aurora is one of the most beautiful, surreal, and bizarre things I've ever seen. I'm excited to pitch a big project...
Today also marks 8 years since I worked my last day at a full time job ✌🏽
Camera settings: ISO 1000, f/2.8, 24 mm, 15 seconds
Yellowknife, Northerwest Territories, Canada
Supai, AZ for BBC Travel /
Here are some of my favorites images that I photographed of Supai and the Havasupai Falls while on assignment for BBC Travel. Supai is the most remote town in the lower 48 and is only accessible by an 8 mile hike, by mule, or by helicopter and is the only US town that still received its mail by mule. It has been inhabited by the Havaupai for at least 1,000 years. Check out the full story here:
http://www.bbc.com/travel/gallery/20180222-the-tiny-village-hidden-inside-the-grand-canyon
BBC Travel - The tiny village hidden inside the Grand Canyon /
I'm excited to share my first story for BBC Travel, featuring Supai, the most remote town in the lower 48 states. I hiked 40 miles carrying 50 pounds of gear for this story. It is best viewed on desktop rather than mobile. Enjoy!
http://www.bbc.com/travel/gallery/20180222-the-tiny-village-hidden-inside-the-grand-canyon
Travel Assignment /
Here are some iPhone photos I snapped while on a travel assignment for BBC Travel. I look forward to sharing the story soon once it goes live!
New Work /
Some fun projects are in the pipeline this year. And the view is not too bad from here
Studio 504 Warming Party /
Tonight is our Studio 504 warming party at 67 West St. in Brooklyn, NY! Come out, celebrate, and have a drink with Reuben Hernandez Studios, Sky Pie Studio, Black Magic Studio, and Matthew Kroening
2017 Best Nine /
My 2017 best nine Instagram photos curated by the Instagram community. 2017 was a great year
Italy | Italy | NYC | Greece | NYC | South Africa | Greece | New York | Italy
2017 A Year in Review /
According to the Weather Channel, it feels like 2°F outside in Brooklyn right now! Mamma mia! After living in NYC for nearly seven years, it still feels like a foreign concept to have to check the weather every single day. No one ever talked about the weather where I grew up in SoCal. Despite the cold, I still love it here and enjoy experiencing seasons and continual change.
And so 2017 ends on a very cold note. 2017 is also the end of American made denim; today the Cone Mills White Oak plant, the last American selvedge denim mill, sadly closes it's doors after 112 years in operation. Cone Mills White Oak denim is my favorite denim fabric, and I ordered one last pair before White Oak shuts down for good.
As 2017 comes to a close, I look back with gratitude. My narrative short film, Maddie, premiered at the Landmark Sunshine Cinema in NYC (sadly also closing it's doors for good next month) earlier this year. Maddie screened at a handful of film festivals and unexpectedly took home a few awards, including the Best Williamsburg Short Award at the Williamsburg Independent Film Festival in Brooklyn last month. Maddie will screen at a few more festivals in 2018. Big thanks to everyone that came out and supported our film this year.
Another project I enjoyed working on this year was This Is Our New York, a short spot I directed for the New York Immigration Coalition, that was broadcasted on the big screen in Times Square.
On a personal note, the major highlight of 2017 was marrying my best friend Lisa in Puglia, Italy last summer alongside our dear friends and family members. We hosted a three day celebration and were intentional about spending quality time together with our loved ones over the course of several days. Afterwards, Lisa and I road tripped, swam, and ate our way around Southern Italy for a month. It was a memorable summer to say the least!
Photo by Nathan Smith
Grotta del Soffio, Italy
Grotta della Poesia Grande, Italy. One of our favorite spots.
Matera, Italy
This year I really had to learn not to sweat the small things in life. Life is too short to focus on little things that really don't matter in the end. I definitely want to continue working on this in 2018 and beyond.
Next year, I will also dance much more.
I also launched a brand new website that you're looking at right now (thanks to my web guru Katherine).
Last but not least, I moved my business into a new studio this year with my friends at Skypie Studio, and have been much more productive and happier. It has been really great and invaluable to move my work life outside of the house, and constantly be surrounded by a community of creatives. I have some exciting projects that I'm looking forward to working on next year.
Much love, peace, and Happy New Year to you all.
All My Best,
Reuben
California Here We Come /
My favorite beach, near where I grew up in Southern California
An oasis at Joshua Tree National Park
I accidentally light painted this Joshua tree with my iphone during a long exposure
Here are some of my favorites images from a recent trip to California last week. It's always great to come back and visit some of the spots I used to frequent growing up.