Rick was born and raised for the first twelve years of his life in Indiana. His interest and love for nature and the environment was evident early. He spent the next six years in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he graduated form Southwood High School. Rick enjoyed many outings to the beautiful nature Louisiana offered. Another move was in store for Rick and his family. This move took them to North Carolina. Rick graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.S. in Biology. He did his undergraduate research by doing the first ever autumn bird census for the Avian Biology department at the university’s biological reserve, Mason Farm. By this time, Rick’s love for photography and birds was unmistakable. He participated in many bird counts for the local chapter of Audubon Society. Numerous outings were enjoyed to the Smoky Mountains, Outer Banks, and all lands in between to photograph birds, landscapes, flowers, and animals.

After six years in North Carolina, another move came about for Rick’s family and Rick decided to go west with them. West was Texas. What an opportunity for Rick’s photography! Birds, landscapes, flora are abundant in the lone star state.  Rick now lives in Oregon and has been very busy photographing the Pacific Northwest and Canada on occasion.

The National Wildlife Refuge System is a large source of wonderful images for Rick. One of the most amazing refuges he visited and photographed was Midway Atoll in the South Pacific. He has also traveled to many of our nation’s national parks from east to west and south to north for his images.

Rick also has great images of backyards, state parks, and city parks. His love of waterfowl has resulted in many wonderful images the last few years.

Rick has long pursued environmental activism and wildlife conservation as his photography career matured. He has sought to use his camera to further these causes. Rick sees beauty in all forms of nature and seeks to communicate this to others.

Rick's favorite quote:

I now belong to a higher cult of mortals, for I have seen the Albatross. - Robert Cushman Murphy