FW Ravlin is a nature photographer specializing in birds, insects, and natural landscapes,. His photographs and writings have been published in a variety of scientific and popular media. Many of his photographs were made in Michigan, Ohio, and New York. He also has international experience in Bangladesh, Belize, Ecuador, Iceland, Mozambique, and Peru.

Professionally, Ravlin has been an entomologist for over 50 years. He has B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Entomology from Michigan State University. From 1980-1998, he was Professor of Entomology at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA ). In 1998 he went to The Ohio State University, where he was Professor of Entomology and Associate Director of The Ohio State University's, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center . From 2014-2021, he was Professor and Chairperson of Michigan State University’s Department of Entomology. He is now Professor & Chairperson Emeritus, Michigan State University and Professor Emeritus, The Ohio State University. He and his wife Sue live in Okemos, Michigan. During the fall of each year, Bill teaches a 16-week, field and studio Insect Photography course at Michigan State University.