Eli Reed is a clinical professor of photojournalism at the University of Texas. He has been a member of the Magnum Photos co-operative since 1983 and is also a member of Kamoinge, a New York-based collective of African American photographers. A former Nieman Fellow at Harvard University, he has worked on assignment for national and international publications covering world news events since 1982.

Among his many awards are Visa pour L'image Festival Du Photoreportage (Perpignan, France; 1993), W. Eugene Smith Grant in Documentary Photography (1992), Kodak World Image Award for Fine Art Photography (1992), Leica Medal of Excellence and POY (1988), Nikon World Understanding Award (1983), as well as prizes from World Press Photo and the Overseas Press Club. His books include Beirut: City of Regrets (1988), Black in America (1997), and I Grandi Fotografi Eli Reed (2007). His work has been exhibited in key museums and galleries, and he has lectured and taught extensively at important venues worldwide and judged major international photo competitions. Reed is a member of the Society of Motion Picture Still Photographers, having photographed over 25 feature, documentary, and cable network films. He is currently directing a nonfiction feature film originating in Florida.