Gone in a Flash: How a Bandit Photographer Stole One Man's Life Work

  To some people, a picture is worth 1000 words but to others, it may be worth more than $1000– and a career breakthrough. Volunteer Trump photographer Ray Reynolds, who often visited Orlando during the 2015 and 2016 presidential campaign, among 15 other states on the trail, learned this lesson firsthand when an amateur photographer from South Carolina allegedly commandeered much of his copyrighted photography and monetized it.

  Reynolds first began working as a volunteer photographer in 2015 for the Donald Trump for president campaign. However, the Trump acolyte enjoyed a highly successful career in the field of photography for several decades prior. He decided to throw his support behind President Trump after the ill-impacts of Obamacare on the healthcare market prevented a family member from receiving proper treatment. His effort to advance the Trump agenda through photography derived not from a hope to advance his career, but rather personal and intimate reasons. Ray Reynolds served as the North Carolina Trump photographer, however, his volunteer activities took him far beyond the borders of that state, flying nearly 76k miles and driving over 55, 000.

  Friends and associates raised a red flag when South Carolina Trump photographer Gene Ho hijacked much of Reynold’s work.

  The two worked as an unofficial team in the campaign and neither of the parties were paid. Reynolds often sent his photos to Ho in order to pass them off to Dan Scavino, a key member of the Trump campaign. However, in doing so, Ho failed to give credit to Reynolds and claimed he took the photos. Moreover, the amateur Trump photographer eventually decided to market the pictures online and sell them.

,,That’s when, according to Reynolds, his significant other discovered the fraud by spotting one of his most distinguished photographs of Melania Trump online for sale. According to Reynolds, Ho placed the photos on Shoot Proof, a photo vending website, without the knowledge or permission of Reynolds, prompting a cease and desist letter from the disenfranchised photographer. Reynolds eventually succeeded in a legal battle over the rights to his photos when several corporations using them settled out of court in recognition of his rightful ownership.

 Reynolds also possesses evidence to support his claims through timestamped metadata and other incontrovertible proof of his original ownership of the photographs. Reynolds says that the cost of bringing a lawsuit against Ho Takes money at the federal level, and lots of it. Over $25,000 in legal fees would be required to do so, according to Reynolds. Nevertheless, money isn’t the only reason why Reynolds chooses not to act. “I am a true believer. I did what I did to support President Trump’s election, not for career gain. I don’t want the money from the photographs, because I didn’t do it for the money.“

Photo: Ray Reynolds

  Despite winning at least one legal battle, Ho continues his charade claiming to be Trump’s photographer, not only coming out with a book but also running for office as a mayoral candidate in South Carolina. Reynolds says he he hopes justice prevails. In the meantime, dozens of GOP Politicos from across the country have joined privately calling for Ho’s ousting.

  Reynolds not only needs credit for his work, but at this rate, and to his humble protest, requires monetary reward for the damage perpetrated by the likes of Gene Ho and his ilk.