Announcements Archives - Tony Ward Studio

Bryan Abrams: The Passing of a Friend

Bryan Abrams. Photographed for the Photography & Fashion class at UPenn. Rest in Peace.

The Passing of a Friend

My first recollection of Bryan Abrams was seeing him in a Philadelphia 76ers television advertisement in the 1980’s. He was the guy that sat at court side during enumerable games cheering on his hometown team, even though he was actually from Delaware. The colorful costumes that he wore exclusively were designed by none other than Gianni Versace. The multi colored silk shirts lit up the television screen and promoted the excitement of being at a 76ers game with their most illustrious fan. Bryan was the type of person you couldn’t forget about once you met him.

It wasn’t until around 1993 that I first met Bryan in person at the Stripped Bass on Walnut street in Philadelphia. We were introduced by one of my models at the time, Paulette Fallon who was friends with a colorful character that she wanted me to meet. He knew about my work through the pictures he saw of Paulette that I shot for Penthouse Magazine amongst others. Over time we would then see each other at various Philadelphia parties and events, eventually leading to a long term friendship mainly by phone and social media. Bryan was amazing at communicating with people he associated with on social media and so our friendship continued to evolve in a positive way over time. He never had a bad thing to say about anybody and he always was upbeat and enjoyed our conversations that ranged from fashion to politics. He was a political science major in college and was very active in democratic politics. Here is an article he wrote for this blog at the start of the war in Gaza: https://tonyward.com/bryan-abrams-47000-9-11s/

One of the highlights of our friendship was the time in which I invited him to speak to my Photography and Fashion class at the University of Pennsylvania. He loved meeting with the students and teaching them about his knowledge of fashion merchandising. He was always encouraging and loved to be photographed by students during the class.

In recent years Bryan started to talk to me more about his health problems, his chronic asthma and his heart issues. He took extreme care of himself, keeping in touch with his doctors and refraining from alcohol and substance use. Despite all of that his overall health started to worsen with more frequent trips to the emergency room. I was concerned but nothing prepared me for the shock of hearing he passed suddenly of a heart attack on May 20th while tending to his yard. He was 72. The only solace I find in his passing is that he died quickly. The shock of his death remains but the memories of Bryan Abrams will always fill me with joy.

Brian Hunt: Testimonial

photo of nude dancer shot at Tony Ward Studio by Brian Hunt — Photo: Ethimo Foto, Copyright 2025

Testimonial

I’ve shot In lots of studios. Most of them are commercial spaces repurposed to be a studio space. They have the normal advantages of commercials spaces. Large doors to load equipment, lots of wall sockets for power, high ceilings etc. With that stated those facilities have disadvantages. They are sterile and lack any hint of inspiration. Can one create in a space of this nature? Yes, but you will be fighting uphill.

Sometimes the space is shared with other projects that are going on at the same time. You could be right next to a group that is playing loud music and running equally loud equipment. All while you are trying to create a connection with the client, model or subject and share a flow of conscientiousness to generate the images that you want. You could negate the possibility of distractions by renting the entire facility, but that doesn’t remove the environmental aspect and would cost much more money. You will still be in a facility that is probably better suited to making widgets, than it is to making Art.

Tony Ward has curated the environmental aspect of his property to be as inspiring as it is functional and accommodating. As soon as you arrive at the enclave you will know that you are in a space that is dedicated to the creation, and appreciation of Art. You are surrounded by Art in various forms including artwork produced by members of his family, namely his father Milton Ward. The exterior walls of the studio are painted in a multi colored patterns, a direct homage to the paintings of his father. The walls of the Ward residence are covered in framed Art in several different mediums by a variety of artists. The furniture is mostly vintage mid century modern and arranged to promote gathering of minds to share ideas. Collections of sculpture, tools, books, and artifacts gathered over a lifetime of artistic endeavors are all on display. The entire property is an Art gallery, with space reserved for you to create your Art.

To learn more about renting studio time at the Tony Ward Studio in Elkins Park, link here: https://tonywardstudio.com/rental/

Scarves by Rashid: Winter Collection 2024-25

Commissioned Work: Scarves by Rashid

Roberto Rashid is a Philadelphia based scarf designer who commissioned me recently to photograph his winter scarf collection. We first met in 1974 when we lived in the same dorm at what was then Millersville State College, now Millersville University in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.. We got to know each other during our college days because we were on the same floor in Burroughs Hall and our dorm rooms were just a few yards away from each other. Jenx (nickname) as he was affectionately called was and still is a dapper character with exquisite taste. He was always well dressed even in college and for some that didn’t know him way back when he was one of the colleges DJ’s. Hearing Roberto’s distinctive and soothing voice on the school radio station and in the hallways at our dorm was reminiscent of the same kind of sounds I heard on the Philadelphia radio stations like WDAS fm in college. I thought he was destined to become a radio personality but fate would have it he turned to fashion, influenced by his mother working in the textile industry when he was a young man.

I didn’t have further contact with Roberto after college until a little over a year ago. We bumped into each other on June 12, 2023 at a Jeff Bradshaw album release party hosted by none other than Patty Jackson from WDASfm at a venue in Germantown. After the event we started following each other on social media. Roberto had become keenly aware of the collaborative work I’ve been producing with KVaughn, creative director and legendary scarf designer from Philly. When he called to engage me about photographing his winter scarf collection he made it clear he wanted still lives of the product only, no models. That was a distinction with a difference as I started to plan the shoot and construct a set that would make the shoot with Roberto unique.

In general, people mainly associate my work these days with portraiture as it relates to fashion and erotica, not so much product photography per se, so this was a welcome departure for sure. Roberto put his trust in me, and a pleasure to work with on set. Knowing his musical background, we listened to a variety of tracks to stimulate our collaboration including Mario Lanza, Miles Davis and some R&B mixed in as well played on vinyl.

To learn more about Scarves by Rashid, link here: https://scarvesbyrashid.biz

Contact us for your next shoot! Call: 267-475-0828 or email: Tony@TonyWard.com.

The Photo Review: Auction

The Photo Review is a critical journal of international scope and readership. Publishing since 1976, The Photo Review covers photography events throughout the country and serves as a central resource for the Mid-Atlantic region. With incisive reviews, exciting portfolios, lively interviews, the latest in books and exhibitions, The Photo Review biannual journal has earned a reputation as one of the best serious photography publications being produced today. Our writers — including A.D. Coleman, Stephen Perloff, Shelley Rice, Peter Hay Halpert, Barbara L. Michaels, Jean Dykstra, and Mark Power — have weighed in on subjects as varied as the posthumous publication of work by Diane Arbus, women in photography, the growth of digital media, the historical movement from Pictorialism into Modernism, etc., etc. In his ongoing series, “The Censorship Diaries,” Editor Stephen Perloff was in the forefront in covering the controversy over funding for the NEA and censorship of the arts.

The Photo Review has earned a reputation for lucid and incisive writing aimed at an intelligent and informed audience, but free of the cant and jargon that infects much contemporary writing about art. Thus, both arts publications and the popular press have looked to us for interpretations of what’s happening on the photography scene. Articles have been reprinted in such publications as Afterimage, To, Photography in New York, American Photo, and others.

Editor Stephen Perloff, a respected writer, educator and photographer, has been interviewed for The New York Times, The Toronto Globe & Mail, The Wall Street Journal, the Philadelphia Inquirer, Photo District News, and the New York Observer. He has received two critic’s fellowships from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the Colin Ford Award for Curatorship from the Royal Photographic Society.

Tony Ward's portrait of four fetish models for famous Wasteland Poster 2005 — Wasteland. Photo: Tony Ward, Copyright 2024. Available at Auction on October 26, 2024.

In The Moment: The Art & Photography of Harvey Finkle

Exhibition announcement for Harvey Winkle at the Woodmere Museum of Art — Harvey Finkle at The Woodmere Museum.

In The Moment: The Art & Photography of Harvey Finkle

About the Exhibition

The work of the Philadelphia-born photographer and activist Harvey Finkle offers an intimate view of the hardships, sacrifices, and joys experienced by members of the diverse communities and political movements he has engaged with over the course of his career. In the Moment explores photography’s ability to interrogate social inequities, arouse empathy, and inspire political action. Consisting of photographs that Finkle has taken over the past half-decade, the show surveys the multiple and sophisticated ways in which his work forges meaningful connections with its audiences. Guest-curated by Antongiulio Sorgini, categorical groupings take us through Finkle’s journey, chronicling the stories that shape our collective consciousness.

For more information about the exhibition, link here: https://woodmereartmuseum.org/experience/exhibitions/in-the-moment-the-art-photography-of-harvey-finkle