Photography
Astudillo began working as a war photographer for nearly two years, where he was wounded on more than one occasion. He has documented a variety of armed conflicts, spending time in Latin America, Europe and the Middle East.
Astudillo's experiences in the military profoundly influenced his early photography, drawn to social issues which included stories on gang violence, the homeless, and Hollywood vice. He moved into mainstream photography only after a series of close calls while on assignment in the Middle East conflict, switching to magazine editorial and still photography, although the eclecticism remained, from his photo series on the Los Angeles Coroner's Office morgue in downtown Los Angeles, to the photo story of a multi-national skinhead wedding in San Francisco, California.
He began shooting reportage photography for a number of entertainment magazines and studios using his photojournalism experience. His celebrity photography includes portraiture, often using a single source of light, an influence of one of his favorite photographers, celebrity and fashion photographer, Robert Maxwell. One of the highlights of his career was the opportunity to photograph Maxwell in the photobooth.
Astudillo's other photographic influences include instruction by photographer Richard Ross at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Charles Biasini, Elliott Erwitt, Guy Bourdin, Sean Ellis, Richard Avedon, Duane Michals, Patrick Demarchelier, Annie Leibovitz, James Nachtwey, Eddie Adams and the encouragement of his ranger detachment SRS, Sapu Maiava, and that of his brother, Godofredo Astudillo, a filmmaker and photo editor.
Read more about this topic: Rodelio Astudillo
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