Ken Ruinard Photo Exhibit Snapshot of a Community Friend

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

When Ken Ruinard was finishing his college career at San Jose State University, he had never heard of Anderson, S.C. But when a professor suggested he apply for a job as a photographer at the Anderson Independent-Mail, little did he know he was about to discover his home for the next 35 years.

As a photographer at the newspaper, Ruinard has recorded what he considers the most important target of his cameras, capturing the people of the community he has grown to love and where he has become a much-loved and respected journalist.

He credits Photojournalist Paul Brown, who had been chronicling the area for more than three decades by the time Ruinard arrived in 1988, for sharing his philosophy that taking time to get to know the people in his photos was as important as the actual assignment.

He has built his own strong legacy in the community, where in addition to his news coverage, is the top sports photographer in the state (he was given 13 awards including seven, first-place honors by the South Carolina Press Association in 2022). His coverage of Clemson football has also gotten national attention.

Ruinard has survived multiple owners at the newspaper, including the last one which led to the mergers of the Independent-Mail, the Greenville News, the Spartanburg Herald-Journal, and the Asheville Citizen-Times after being purchased by Gannett. But no matter the owner, he has remained committed to taking time to chat it up on most assignments, leaving in his wake new friends.

An exhibit of his work is on display through June 29 at the Anderson Arts Center. More information here.