You said this about CoverShots: "Better late than never"...that's my motto......so, here I am staring at the paper in front of me and hoping that I can put into words, what I feel in my ♥ heart about this AMAZING artist, photographer, and GIFTED person named Rich, whom I call 'My Friend." Rich has inspired me from… Read more

You said this about CoverShots: "Better late than never"...that's my motto......so, here I am staring at the paper in front of me and hoping that I can put into words, what I feel in my ♥ heart about this AMAZING artist, photographer, and GIFTED person named Rich, whom I call 'My Friend." Rich has inspired me from the first moment I laid eyes on his work, through his BRILLIANT photography and drawings. I am in AWE at all the beauty he sees, and beautifully portrays, whether it be the tiniest little creatures of nature, a homeless man always with a glowing smile on his face, an old weathered building, the shining headlight of an old clunker, a tattered old rag...the 'simple things' of life....and allowing us to take a 'peek' of the vision that he sees through his camera or pencil with just a 'CLICK' of the shutter button, or with the stroke of a pencil or brush. Rich is TRULY a MASTER in his field !!!!! Rich has given me bountiful confidence in myself and in my ability to try to excel in photography !!!!! Very few like him in this old world, so I'd like to say, "Thank you, Rich, from the bottom of my ♥ !!! You are a gem !!!! Thank you for sharing your magnificent visions through your photography and art, AND, your expertise with all of us, especially little ole' me !! ;)) I am honored to call you , my friend !! - Jerri

Good with words, I am not, but I feel I must get past my insecurities to write this testimonial for my friend, Rich. Rich is a wonderful man and one of my earliest flickr friends. He has helped me tremendously with my photography, and as a result, I view the world around me more intensely and with much vigor! Rich… Read more

Good with words, I am not, but I feel I must get past my insecurities to write this testimonial for my friend, Rich. Rich is a wonderful man and one of my earliest flickr friends. He has helped me tremendously with my photography, and as a result, I view the world around me more intensely and with much vigor! Rich has encouraged me, shared his expertise and his friendship over the last two years. Rich is a very giving man and is so full of compassion for his fellow man and their life experiences. Rich has taught me so much about photography and art, for that matter, and it is with his help that I have grown as a Photographer and Artist. Rich's photography was always sensational, but now he has reached new hights...literally! He has developed and has patents pending on KAP rigs (Kite Aerial Photography) and, as a result, has produced the most amazing images, from high in the sky, of his beautiful and lush valley below, which he calls home, in the state of Oregon. Rich's images just takes my breath away. Whether it be a macro shot of a flower, a barn in the foggy distance, or an aerial shot of stunning vistas below, Rich has a spectacular talent to display his images of the world around him. Rich is a wonderfully talented and giving man and I am so grateful to know him, learn from him and call him my dear friend. Thanks for everything, Rich. I am eternally grateful for all you have taught me...including the use of carbon dust! Ronah

Rich knew me for all of 5 minutes over a cigarette and a photo-op before he was happy to share his knowledge with me. When I finally got my account here he welcomed me with open arms. I barely, still, know him from Adam, but the only think I can say is he inspired me to go a step further. Oh, and he's a darned good pho… Read more

Rich knew me for all of 5 minutes over a cigarette and a photo-op before he was happy to share his knowledge with me. When I finally got my account here he welcomed me with open arms. I barely, still, know him from Adam, but the only think I can say is he inspired me to go a step further. Oh, and he's a darned good photographer. Keep it up buddy!

I met my friend Richard at a time when I was just starting to understand film photography. I had a darkroom, and I was learning to use the Zone System. We both worked for the University of Chicago, and from time to time we would chat about our shared interests. One day Rich invited me to his house to see his photogr… Read more

I met my friend Richard at a time when I was just starting to understand film photography. I had a darkroom, and I was learning to use the Zone System. We both worked for the University of Chicago, and from time to time we would chat about our shared interests. One day Rich invited me to his house to see his photographs, and his cameras and to do some setup product photography. I remember the photos, and glimpses of the cameras, but I’ll never forget the lesson I learned that day about really looking through the viewfinder. He had assembled all the elements of a studio in preparation to do a shoot of some fine crystal stemware. There were lights, and seamless background, and tripods, and flash, all in an environment of total artistic control. There was no accidental interference from the wind or clouds or trees, just the set, the crystal and the camera. We probably did three setups that day, each one different and each one a completely new experience for me. The creativity and attention to detail just flowed as Rich brought his art design and agency experience to the set that day. We looked at things with more intensity and care that I had ever experienced, and the images that resulted were amazing. I don’t think I’ve ever looked through the viewfinder the same way since. The work that I did in the critique group that followed some years later was heavily influenced by that experience, and to this day, I try to really look at the image in the viewfinder. Look at this ‘photo stream’ and you’ll see years of experience at work there. There is the influence of the view camera, of two bath developers optimized for fine grain and smooth tone, of small format, and incredible medium format, of commercial photography, and of the natural world. He has earned the ability bend the medium to match his vision, and didn’t settle to bend his vision to see as the medium tried to demand. As hard as he has worked to achieve the many things he has mastered in his life, he is by that same nature, given to share his knowledge. Chat with him some time, or ask a question on the subject of photography, or chess, or programming in Visual Basic, or making Excel dance. Or the characteristics of wood as it pertains to fine cabinetry and woodworking. Or the subject of gardening and viticulture. Or how best to handle the left hand positions in a guitar transcription of Erik Satie’s Gymnopédie. There won’t be any glossy generalizations, or ‘I’ll have to check on that’ type answers. You’ll get a generous and carefully considered discussion that can be misleading in its casualness. In fact, there is a deep intelligence at the core of his understanding, and if you have the mind to listen, and the heart to explore, you will learn something. I mention these things because you would otherwise have no chance of knowing because he is modest to a fault. I knew Richard for years before I discovered that he had the talent to draw. Draw. Look at his work, and tell me how you keep that a secret for 20 years. He has also had amazing success in his professional life, but I’ll leave that for you to discover on your own. You’ll be the richer and wiser for it.