Rodney Smith's reputation in the fashion industry is unsurpassed. But unlike his contemporaries, Smith's images transcend their initial intent, honoring a classical style all his own, making them quite unique. "I think what I, or someone like myself, can do for the fashion industry is to provide a sense of classic style, a certain sense of grace, a certain sense of what is beautiful. To look at things that are somewhat stylish and enduring and something that will last, rather than something that will change every moment."

Whether photographing a man standing in waste high water, two men looking at one another from a tree limb or an elegant woman in an evening gown standing in a canoe as it glides through a marsh, Smith is always looking for the perfect blend between his subject and the location. "My father was a businessman and he was in the fashion business. In that business everything is about appearance so I grew up in a family that was totally oriented about how things look. I think that was generally instilled in me from a very early age. From detail on fabric to detail in architecture to detail all over -- I think the good parts of all of that was that very early on I did become attentive to details. A sense of style, a sense of proportion and a sense of beauty and a sense of grace -- all of those things were very important in my upbringing."