The Animal Kingdom: A Collection of Portraits
In the Fall of 2018, Ford's first animal portrait series was published in a book, The Animal Kingdom, by renowned publisher Rizzoli New York. The book, which has received widespread acclaim, and is available at booksellers everywhere including Barnes and Noble and Amazon. Proceeds from the sales of the book benefit Project Survival's Cat Haven.
FOReWARD BY ACCLAIMED PHOTOGRAPHER, DAN WINTERS
These exquisite photographs go well beyond anthropomorphism. We feel genuine emotion that provides us a cathartic connection.
Mr. Ford has also given us a sacred gift. He has acted as an avatar, and through his efforts, he has allowed us to experience these beasts of the field with an intimacy that is reserved for a select few.
He has conjured a world in which these creatures not only inhabit the same plane but also exist with us as equals. As a result, we respond not with fear but, instead, with wonderment.
–Dan Winters
These arresting, often startling images are somehow both intimate and remote, as if Ford were a 21st century John James Audubon, wielding a camera instead of a paintbrush.
Just like high school, nature is full of class clowns, punks, drama geeks and stoics—and acclaimed photographer Randal Ford captures these distinct personalities... These stunning animal portraits will touch your heart
Best Gift Book list. Majestic lions, and tigers and bears and more, photographed portrait-style. They sat still!
- People Magazine
Farm Life: A Collection of Portraits
Following the acclaimed The Animal Kingdom and Good Dog, Farm Life takes us beyond the barn and into the very heart of America’s vibrant farm animals. This whimsical collection celebrates the spirited charm of these pastoral creatures and invites the viewer on a heartfelt journey of expression, play, and contemplation.
Masterful, refreshing, and full of joy, this heartfelt collection of farm animal portraits gives us a beautiful look at the special breeds at the center of farm life, inviting us to witness the wild still within them.
Foreword by brian Patrick flynn, tv personality
Randal Ford transforms the silent language of animals into captivating visual stories, revealing their personalities with ease and elegance. His photographs are not just art; they are windows into the soulful essence of our animal counterparts, making every space they inhabit a place for connection and conversation. In Ford's world, every animal is a friend, proving that the entire animal kingdom is indeed his best companion.
Published by Rizzoli New York in the Fall of 2024
Randal Ford transforms the silent language of animals into captivating visual stories, revealing their personalities with ease and elegance. His photographs are not just art; they are windows into the soulful essence of our animal counterparts, making every space they inhabit a place for connection and conversation. In Ford's world, every animal is a friend, proving that the entire animal kingdom is indeed his best companion.
- Brian Patrick Flynn
Ford is a kind of Richard Avedon of animal art, in most cases avoiding the arty whimsy of William Wegman in favor of a more noble take that looks into the subject’s eyes for understanding; it wouldn’t be surprising if the animals themselves had commissioned these flattering portraits. Ford’s lovely images in this Rizzoli volume have a classical simplicity to them, all the animals posed like supermodels, some with wind in their fur, against plain backgrounds.
- 1st Dibs Magazine
Creating portraits of animals in the studio is both an art and a meticulous science. I believe simplicity is the ultimate sophistication, and it is this belief that drives me to use classic but neutral backgrounds, precise lighting, and intentional styling. Achieving the right balance between these elements allows the vibrant spirit and intrinsic beauty of each animal to take center stage without any distractions from its environment.
- Randal Ford
Good Dog: A Collection of Portraits
Dogs have been in our lives for millennia-- as our best friends and our family. As we attempt to navigate the ever-changing terrain of a global pandemic, one good thing remains constant: our dogs by our side. If there were ever a time to pay tribute to our closest companions, it is now. Good Dog is a heartwarming collection of meaningful moments with man's-best-friend. As we look into the eyes of these animals, may we recognize the unwavering presence of their gentle spirit-- one of wisdom, unending loyalty and perfect love for imperfect humans.
Foreword by W. Bruce Cameron, Author of A Dog’s Purpose
With a compelling essay by W. Bruce Cameron, this warm, tender, playful, and heartfelt collection of dog portraits gives us a beautiful look into the lives of our most cherished companions.
Proceeds from Good Dog to benefit Emancipet, a non-profit organization providing low-cost veterinary care..
Published by Rizzoli New York in the Fall of 2020
If there is a creature more joyous than a dog, I don’t know what it is, and in this wonderful miracle of a book, all the mischief and happiness and love and fun come through the dogs’ eyes and straight at us.
- W. Bruce Cameron
What is a dog? Here are some answers. Better than words, Ford’s canine portraits illuminate dogs in all their beauty, humor and grace. And speaking of words, check out the great names and stories...
- William Wegman
Dogs are more than just their cute faces. They are their stories. They are their past and their present, their trials and their triumphs, their quirks and their cuddles. Our companions are living, feeling animals with rich lives and even richer love.
- Randal Ford