Philly Fashion Photographer Reuben “Big Rube” Harley Moves from the Street to the Studio

Fashion Photographer Reuben "Big Rube" Harley

By A.D. AMOROSI

If you’re looking for a local photographer who on a daily basis essays the fashions of his fellow Philadelphians, Reuben “Big Rube” Harley is your man. He’s the photo blogger behind the Daily News’ “Street Gazing” and now a second column, “Big Rube’s Party People.”  Last night, however, he moved beyond the blog and took his recent obsession with studio photography to Replica Creative Gallery (33 S. 18th) for his first ever exhibition, "Lips and Heelz”.

Harley developed his eye for photographing Center City’s habitués while staring out the window of Mitchell & Ness, the tony urban sportswear store and brand for which he was marketing director in the early aughts. In that position, he helped make sport team insignias on jerseys, hats, caps and footwear a part of hip hop’s sartorial lexicon.

Now, in his work as a photo blogger, “Big Rube” captures personal style day and night, finding Philly’s fashionistas moving through their lives looking swell and swanky.

Patrons at Harley's show

Along with all of that outdoor photography, Harley is now applying his lively vision and urban esthetic to fashion photography in the studio. The first fruits of those labors were on display during this week’s “My Lips and Heelz” exhibition as part of Replica Creative’s “Replica after Dark” artist series. There, patrons filed through the dark gallery spot where Harley held court while his glossy photos – a cool blend of advertisement and art - hung high above the crowd.

Photos ©A.D. Amorosi 2012

Posted on Saturday, November 17, 2012 3:35 PM