Dale May | NY Advertising Photographer, Director & CGI Artist

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Dale May Press & News | Advertising Photography Coverage

Editorial & Features

Press & News

Dale May

August 2026

Lürzer's Archive 200best Digital Artists Worldwide 2026/27 (Edition 8): Four Dale May Works Selected for Hybrid Photography and Photorealistic CGI

Four of Dale May's images were selected for the eighth edition of Lürzer's Archive 200best Digital Artists Worldwide: "Inner Peace," "Horse Whisperer," "The Accidental Tourist," and "Clown Time Burger." It is his third appearance in the 200best Digital Artists series and his fourth 200best selection overall across both of Lürzer's Archive's worldwide lists.

"Inner Peace" and "The Accidental Tourist" have a longer history than the other two. Both began as portraits photographed for Prevention Magazine in 2011, and both were rebuilt in 2026 using current photography, CGI, AI, and post-production. The subjects are the same. Everything around them is new. [You can see more of the work here]

Inner Peace: hybrid photography and CGI image by Dale May, selected for Lürzer's Archive 200best Digital Artists Edition 8.

Horse Whisperer: model rearing up on a horse in a CGI-built Montana landscape by Dale May, selected for Lürzer's Archive 200best Digital Artists Edition 8.

The Accidental Tourist: hybrid photography and CGI image by Dale May, selected for Lürzer's Archive 200best Digital Artists Edition 8.

Clown Time Burger: hybrid photography and CGI image by Dale May, selected for Lürzer's Archive 200best Digital Artists Edition 8.

April 2026

Workbook Features Dale May's Camcevi HCP Campaign for Accord BioPharma: Hybrid Photography, Photorealistic CGI and Cinemagraph Animation for Pharmaceutical Advertising

Workbook features Dale May's new Camcevi pharmaceutical advertising campaign for Accord BioPharma, produced through Proximyl Health. The hybrid production combines live patient and physician portraits with photorealistic CGI environments and cinemagraph animation, demonstrating Dale's single-artist approach to high-end pharma campaign work. [Read the full article on Workbook]

Camcevi pharmaceutical advertising campaign for Accord BioPharma. Doctor on a golf course in a hybrid photography and CGI scene by NY pharmaceutical advertising photographer Dale May.

November 2025

Oprah Daily Holiday 2025: Dale May CGI Cover, Logo and Animation for Oprah Daily Magazine

Dale May was hired by Oprah Daily to create a Holiday Magazine cover and logo for Oprah's 100 Favorite Things issue. The job was to combine portrait photography, shot by Ruvén Afanador, and place Oprah in a CGI snow globe with a pile of Holiday gifts and snow, then deliver an animated version of the final cover. They also asked Dale to create an Oprah "O" logo in the shape of a winter puffy jacket and hat with an animated ribbon reading "Oprah's 100 Favorite Things," all created with CGI. To animate the still cover, Dale used AI-animated plates of Oprah's arm and a stuffed bear and composited them back into the still image so only parts of the image would move, using Dale's hybrid methods of photography to solve complex problems on a short deadline. [Watch the animated versions here]

Editorial Director: @pilar_guzman

Executive Visual Director: @makingitlast

Contributing Visual Editor: @_hannah_anderson_

Design Director: @mattslashben

Contributing Art Directors: @pbcury · @gillianmacleod_design

Photographer: @ruvenafanador

Photo Illustration / Animation: @dalemayphoto

Set Design: @glitterville

Fashion Editor: @jennycapitain

Hair: @iamlawrencedavishair

Makeup: @derrick4mkup

ALL THINGS OFT: @raeannherman · @justinejanthony

October 2025

Starlight Falls Motel, Room 4: New York Shorts International Film Festival

Dale May's short film "Starlight Falls Motel, Room 4" was an official selection at the 2025 New York Shorts International Film Festival in New York City. Written, directed, and produced entirely by May, the film stars Phil Hyland (Hellraiser 3) and Phil Costello (Jer-Z Knights) and was shot on greenscreen in May's home studio.

Room 4 is a direct demonstration of May's hybrid production methodology: photorealistic CGI environments, VFX, and animation built from the ground up and seamlessly integrated with live-action photography to create a fully realized cinematic world without a single location shoot.

In Room 4 of the Starlight Falls Motel, the mystery runs deep. Detective Jack Malone's emotional baggage runs deeper. A woman and her child have vanished without a trace. Enter Malone: recovering alcoholic, homicide detective, and walking emotional crisis. Motel manager Harold has details about the incident and a few words about the property's finer amenities. Jack has other things on his mind.

[View the Festival Program] · [Explore The Starlight Falls Motel Case Study] · [Watch the full film on Vimeo] · [IMDb]

Starlight Falls Motel, Room 4: Official selection poster for the 2025 New York Shorts International Film Festival.

June 2025

Lürzer's Archive 200best Advertising Photographers Worldwide 2025/26: Dale May Named 200best for Hybrid Photography and Photorealistic CGI Environment Work

Dale May's advertising photography campaigns and personal work combined got him a spot among 200 of the world's best advertising photographers and was featured in Lürzer's Archive's 2025/26 annual. [You can see more of the work here]

Actor Alexander Patsos in a CGI-built loft interior. Lürzer's Archive 200 Best Advertising Photographers Worldwide 2025/26.

April 2025

Jer-Z Knights (2003): Dale May's 2025 Director's Cut

Dale May's directorial debut, "Jer-Z Knights," was an official selection of the Sundance Film Festival. Written with his bandmates in Satanicide and starring May himself, the film has now been remastered for a 2025 Director's Cut using AI upscaling and image enhancement techniques to restore and elevate the original standard-definition footage. Several new scenes were added using CGI animation to bring greater clarity to the film's original creative intent. [Watch the 2025 Director's Cut on Vimeo] · [IMDb]

Jer-Z Knights 2025 Director's Cut: Movie poster for Dale May's Sundance Film Festival 2003 short film, remastered with AI upscaling.

October 2024

Lürzer's Archive 200best Digital Artists Worldwide 2024/25: Dale May Named 200best for Hybrid Photography and Photorealistic CGI Environment Work

Dale May's advertising photography campaigns and personal work combined got him a spot among 200 of the world's best Digital Artists and was featured in Lürzer's Archive's 2024/25 annual. [You can see more of the work here]

Location Scout: 100% CGI lifestyle scene featuring a female character and Range Rover in an Icelandic landscape.

September 2024

International Photography Awards: Dale May Awarded Photographer of the Year in the Digitally Enhanced Category for Personal Project "Last Trip Home"

This 2024 IPA award winning cinematic personal project was created with model Emerson Croasdale, the daughter of one of Dale's high school friends. Dale was awarded Photographer of the Year in their special digitally enhanced category for his hybrid method of photography, blending studio portraiture with photorealistic CGI environments. [You can see more of the work here]

Last Trip Home: IPA 2024 Photographer of the Year winner in the Digitally Enhanced category.

September 2024

International Photography Awards: Dale May Awarded 2nd Place in Digitally Enhanced Category for Personal Project "Live Free Or Die"

This 2024 IPA award winning personal project was created with long-time actor, friend and collaborator Alexander Patsos to create a cinematic story about a free-spirited biker and his pet piglet Hamlet. The series is a conceptual series created with hybrid photography and photorealistic CGI environments. [You can see more of the work here] · [View the Case Study]

Live Free Or Die: IPA 2024 2nd Place Silver winner in the Digitally Enhanced category.

August 2024

Prix de la Photographie, Paris (PX3): Dale May Given Silver Award in Professional Advertising, Self Promotion Category for "What Could Go Wrong?"

This PX3 award winning personal project was inspired by science moving too fast for safeguards. The project was created by Dale's hybrid photography method of studio portraiture combined with photorealistic CGI environments and props. [You can see more of the work here]

What Could Go Wrong: PX3 2024 Silver Award winner in Professional Advertising Self Promotion.

May 2024

Professional Advertising Photography Awards: Dale May Awarded 1st Place Gold for Personal Project "Live Free Or Die"

Dale May's personal project "Live Free Or Die" features friend and long-time collaborator, actor Alexander Patsos in an image series about a free-spirited biker and his pet piglet Hamlet. The series was created with Dale's hybrid photography method of studio photography and photorealistic CGI environments and one of many that helped Dale achieve Lürzer's Archive 200best Photographers and Digital Artists. [You can see more of the work here] · [View the Case Study]

Live Free Or Die: Best Photography Awards 2024 1st Place Gold winner in Professional Advertising Photography.

March 2023

Communication Arts, International Photography Awards and More: Dale May's Award of Excellence for Personal Project "1974"

Dale May's personal project "1974," featuring actress Emily Shephard and his son Damien Stryker May, won five awards including a Communication Arts Award in the 64th Photography Annual, an IPA 2023 International Photography Award Honorable Mention, a 2023 Prix de la Photographie PX3 Gold Award, a Gold 2023 ReFocus Award, and a 3rd Place Honor of Distinction from the International Color Awards. The image was created using Dale's hybrid method of portrait photography and photorealistic CGI environments and was one of many that helped Dale achieve Lürzer's Archive 200best Photographers and Digital Artists. [You can see more of the work here] · [View the Case Study]

1974: Five-time award-winning hybrid photography and CGI image by Dale May.

October 2022

Lürzer's Archive 200best Digital Artists Worldwide 2022/23: Dale May Named 200best for Hybrid Photography and Photorealistic CGI Environment Work

Dale May was named among 200 of the world's best Digital Artists and featured in Lürzer's Archive's 2022/23 annual for hybrid works combining photography, CGI environments, and full CGI imagery. The Starlight Falls Motel project was among the body of work that contributed to this recognition. [View the Starlight Falls Motel Case Study]

Starlight Falls Motel, Room 3: Hybrid photography and CGI by Dale May featuring Natasha King.

September 2022

International Photography Awards: Dale May Awarded an Honorable Mention for Personal Project "Starlight Falls Motel, Room 3"

This IPA award winning personal project was created with long-time friend and collaborator Natasha King, who has modeled on many of Dale's award-winning projects. The series is a cinematic conceptual series created with hybrid photography and photorealistic CGI environments. [You can see the Case Study of this project here]

Starlight Falls Motel, Room 3: IPA 2022 Honorable Mention in Special: Digitally Enhanced.

August 2022

Prix de la Photographie, Paris (PX3): Dale May Given Bronze Award in Portraiture, Self Promotion Category for Personal Project "Ophelia's Dragon"

This PX3 award winning personal project was inspired by and features Dale's daughter Ophelia Rein May. The project was created by Dale's hybrid photography method of studio portraiture combined with photorealistic CGI environments and props. [You can see more of the work here]

Ophelia's Dragon: PX3 2022 Bronze Award winner in Portraiture Self Promotion.

August 2022

Prix de la Photographie, Paris (PX3): Dale May Given Bronze Award in Portraiture, Self Promotion Category for Personal Project "Acme Flame-Throwing Robot"

This PX3 award winning personal project was inspired by his son and also features Dale, his son Damien Stryker May and dog Jimmy. The project was created by Dale's hybrid photography method of studio portraiture combined with photorealistic CGI environments and props. [You can see more of the work here]

Acme Flame-Throwing Robot: PX3 2022 Bronze Award winner.

October 2021

International Photography Awards: Dale May Awarded 2nd Place for "Acme Flame-Throwing Robot" Personal Project

This IPA award winning personal project was inspired by his son and also features Dale, his son Damien Stryker May and dog Jimmy. The project was created with Dale's hybrid photography method of studio portraiture combined with photorealistic CGI environments and props. [You can see more of the work here]

Acme Flame-Throwing Robot: IPA 2021 2nd Place winner.

April 2016

Communication Arts: Dale May's CA Award of Excellence for Environmental Portrait of Influencer Kelly Eden

Featured in the Communication Arts Photography Annual 57, this personal project was shot in Kelly Eden's home, showing her unique and colorful interior design and personality. The concept was based around influencers and the world outside of the tiny screens where we're used to seeing them. The image was created in camera and Dale's dog Jimmy was added in post. [You can see more of the work here]

Dream: Communication Arts Photography Annual 57 Award of Excellence.

July 2015

Communication Arts: Dale May's CA Award of Excellence for Celebrity Portrait Photography of Benedict Cumberbatch

Featured in the Communication Arts Photography Annual 56, this editorial cover shoot series of actor Benedict Cumberbatch was commissioned by Time Out London Magazine for their London Film Festival cover. Dale had 15 minutes to photograph Benedict during a press junket. [You can see more of the work here]

Benedict Cumberbatch: Communication Arts Photography Annual 56 Award of Excellence.

May 2014

Bloomberg TV: Artist Dale May Interviewed by Pimm Fox on Taking Stock

Dale May sat down with Pimm Fox on Bloomberg TV's "Taking Stock With Pimm Fox" to discuss the success of his Star Wars based photographic series, Lego Wars.

The interview was part of the "May the 4th Be With You" Star Wars Day press run that carried Lego Wars through Bloomberg, People, Marie Claire and Glamour inside a single week.

May 2014

People: Coco Vader and X-Ray Troopers: LEGO Star Wars Characters Get Quirky Art Makeovers

People.com Magazine talked with Dale May about his Lego Wars images and his inspiration behind them. [Read the full article on People]

The Lego Wars series is also documented in its own Wikipedia article.

May 2014

Marie Claire: Here's What Happens When Star Wars Gets a Massive Fashion Makeover

Dale May was featured in the "Fashion" section of MarieClaire.com. In the interview Dale discussed his inspiration for the Lego Wars series, how he got into fashion and the iconic brands he aligned with the characters. [Read the full article on Marie Claire]

May 2014

Glamour: Coco Vader! V3PO Louis Vuitton! You HAVE to See This Fashion Meets Star Wars Art

Glamour speaks with Dale May about Lego Wars, the connection between Star Wars and fashion, and his experience working with Jared Leto. [Read the full article on Glamour]

May 2014

The Darkroom: May the 4th with Dale May

In this interview Dale May discussed his inspiration for Lego Wars, the concept of the project, and his career as a celebrity photographer.

May 2014

At Home: Stormtroopers Hit Bedrooms Everywhere!

Dale May's Stormtroopers, from his ever-popular LEGO WARS series, was spotted in the May/June issue of At Home in Fairfield County.

January 2014

Idol: Dale May's Lego Wars Series

New York based photographer Dale May's "Lego Wars" series combines two much-loved and nostalgic themes, Star Wars and Lego, with iconic fashion branding.

December 2013

Eddie & Ozzie Awards: Time Out London Wins Best Use of Photography for Dale May's Daniel Day-Lewis Cover

Time Out London received an Ozzie Award for Best Use of Photography at the 2013 Eddie & Ozzie Awards for its Daniel Day-Lewis cover, photographed by Dale May. The awards recognize excellence in magazine editorial, design, and photography across the industry. [View the winners list] · [Workbook]

December 2013

PDN: The Force Is Strong With This One

May's Lego Wars series was highlighted as the PDN "Photo Of The Day." PDN ceased publication in December 2023.

September 2013

Trendland: Featured Fine Art, Lego Wars by Dale May

Trendland.com featured Dale May's Lego Wars series. [Read the full article on Trendland]

December 2011

Lego Wars: Dale May's First Solo Exhibition at Samuel Owen Gallery

Dale May's first solo exhibition opened at Samuel Owen Gallery in Greenwich, Connecticut on December 15, 2011 and ran through January 19, 2012. The show presented roughly twenty works from the Lego Wars series as large-scale chromogenic prints face-mounted to acrylic, alongside lightbox pieces including X-Ray Vader and CthruPO.

"This is a study in subject matter that is so recognizable. But what Dale has done is really given these little characters a whole new personality. He captures all the detail that you miss. And he's got all these great colors."

Lee Milazzo, co-owner, Samuel Owen Gallery

The series photographs Star Wars Lego figures as heroic portraiture, several of them reimagined through luxury fashion branding: Coco Vader, V3PO Louis Vuitton. As Dale described the work at the time, "I wanted these pieces to be larger than life, but, at the same time, added lots of negative space above the figures to dwarf them in the piece. I think it's that constant push and pull that makes them interesting."

Coverage of the opening: [CT Post] · [Hypebeast] · [CollabCubed] · [Luxurylaunches] · [Quintessence review by Stacey Bewkes] · [If It's Hip, It's Here]

The series has continued to draw coverage since, including [Yesterday's Island] on a 2015 artist reception at Samuel Owen in Nantucket, and [IRK Magazine] in 2018. [View the Lego Wars exhibition gallery]

Lego Wars: Dale May's first solo exhibition at Samuel Owen Gallery, Greenwich, Connecticut, December 2011.

For press inquiries, contact Sarah Hall Productions:

info@shpny.com · 212.529.1598