Photography is the intersection of art and science.
My approach to photography is science based. I am, admittedly, not very artistic. I must, by necessity, compensate for my lack of artistic talent by utilizing scientific principles. It works. Just ask Leonardo Da Vinci, Pablo Picasso or Walt Disney.
Certainly, calculating the inverse square law for setting lighting ratios in a portrait shoot is better understood with a science background. Failing talking to Leo, Pablo or Walt, I can tell you that everything that we understand as a artistic “rule” can be explained by science. Many, or most, or probably all, basic compositional rules such as “rule of thirds” or leading lines can be explained by science.
But then, some of us believe everything can be explained by science. If it hasn’t been explained yet, it will be.
This timeline should show you life events that have molded me as a scientist and as an equine photographer.
1971 – Graduated University of Nebraska, BA, Biology
1971-1973 Cardiopulmonary Technologist, Immanual Medical Center, Omaha. 1973-1976, Chief Pulmonary Technologist, University Of Nebraska Medical Center. Received Certification as Cariopulmonary Technologist.
1973-1976 Graduate School, Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center. For my graduate dissertation I designed a serum quantification technique for Naegleria fowleri, the causative agent of primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).
In 1976 I got my first camera. A 35 mm SLR, a Canon Canonet. It started what would become my lifelong obsession with photography. How many dollars (which we didn’t have back then) did I spend on film development?!?! And I took this photo not long ago. I still have that camera! Shown here ————>
1971-1980 Barb and I operated Applewood Farm in Valley, NE. We trained horses for the public and hauled youth kids to the AQHA shows. In 1976 I showed the Champion all around horse Quarter Horse Association of Nebraska. She was in the top 4 in just about every event in the State!
After graduate school, I quit training horses and concentrated on a career. From then until recently Barb and I have been involved with showing reining horses at the local and national level. 2007 and a couple other years I was the champion Non Pro in the Central Plains Reining Horse Associaton.
Click Here to see my second place win on Whole Lotta Whiskey in the 2007 Central Plains Reining Horse Association Non Pro Derby.
I hope you agree this unique combination of scientific training and horse training experience has provided a background as an equine photographer.
But!!...Things. They are a changin'
You haven’t seen me just outside the arena (as official photographer) for several years now. Those of you that know me well know why that is. For these several years I have been dealing with chronic back pain that prohibits my shooting the shows.
So I will be going back to my first passion in photography, landscapes. And over the next months you will see the changes to this website that reflect that change in focus. (Yeah. Sorry. Bad pun)
But please check back often. Especially check the “What’s Going on with Barb and Ron” section of the site. We will be doing some travel, hopefully getting some interesting, frameable wall art, and showing it to you here.
At a minimum, check what we have been doing and let us know what’s going on in your life.