art commerce

Steve Riskind has an unusual and varied background. He brings to his work a deep knowledge of photography, first film, and then digital; many years of running a small business; and a love for things electronic and mechanical. This background gives him great empathy for his subjects' work, the ability to put them at ease, and the skills to capture their work in photographs. Photographer Steve Riskind's first job during high school and college was as an electronics technician at the University of Chicago's Argonne Cancer Research Hospital. After working briefly in organizational psychology, he pursued his interest in science and technology and moved into computer consulting. For over 25 years he owned a firm that developed custom database software used in finance, broadcasting, medicine, and the non-profit sector. More recently, Riskind has merged his technology skills with his early love for and training in photography. Riskind studied digital photography extensively at the International Center of Photography and then become an active portrait photographer. He is best known for his portraits of classical musicians, including pianists Richard Goode and Ignat Solzhenitsyn and violist Kim Kashkashian. He has extensively photographed food service training at the New Jersey Community FoodBank, including illustrating Doris Friedensohn's book "Cooking for Change." In addition, he continues to pursue a lifetime interest in photographing the industrial landscape. Riskind's work combines the aesthetic of black and white film photography with his love for the capabilities of digital photography. He lives in Ridgewood, New Jersey with his wife and a well-fed cat.