phoenix art
“We take for granted in Arizona what beautiful state we’re in,” said Rainey. “We have so many different landscapes that we can photograph.”
Rainey said he enjoys taking environmental portraits because of the challenge to put the person in their comfort zone.
Wayne Rainey
By Shine Salt
When he received his first camera on a Christmas morning, Wayne Rainey couldn’t put it down. Let alone, take photos
He snapped pictures of trees, his toys, people and whichever sight caught his attention. In sixth grade he finally had an opportunity to take a photography class.
“I was really fortunate enough to be in that first class,” said Rainey. “As soon as I saw that image come up in the darkroom it was magical. It caught my attention and I studied it ever since.”
With Rainey’s artistic skills, he traveled to Africa and Turkey. He said while traveling is nice, Arizona is the place where all arts can be formed.
“If I get asked to do a portrait I ask them what they like to do and what they enjoy,” said Rainey. “You have to put the person where they are most in their skin. Then they will be more relaxed and that’s when their eyes light up. Their spirit is shook and you can take great photos.”
When Rainey's working on his next big project he looks to other artists for inspiration. He said he’d spend hundreds of dollars on magazines. Tear the pages out and put them on a bulletin board.
“I’ll find what I’m moving toward for the project,” Rainey said. “But with photography and film making, it almost never happens the way you pictured it in your head. There’s always something that changes,
but hopefully you get something that’s even more magical within the moment.”
Rainey has over 20 years of experience with photography and owns a gallery called The Monorchid. He owns a magazine and has won multiple awards.
He advises college students to find mentors they can work side-by-side with to perfectly perform what they love to do; art.
“It’s never the tool that takes a great picture. It’s the photographer,” Rainey said.
