Rick is an award-winning photographer specializing in aviation and wildlife photography. His images hang in homes, private collections, and businesses across the country, and his work has been exhibited multiple times at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. He has competed at local, national, and international levels, earning multiple First Place awards, Judge's Choice, Image of the Year, and People’s Choice honors.
Rick’s photographic journey began with a safari trip to Kenya. Determined to return with stunning images and a solid grasp of photography, he dove into a self-taught crash course on exposure, f-stops, and other initially mystifying terms. The results? Let’s just say they weren’t quite National Geographic material. But that first taste of disappointment only fueled his drive to improve. With persistence, practice, and the occasional bit of luck, Rick has evolved into a photographer, artist, and storyteller. He enjoys chasing the light—though he admits sunrises can be tough—but knows that with patience and determination, incredible results are possible.
Rick specializes in capturing the power and grace of both aircraft and wildlife. He’s a Canon shooter, not due to any deep brand loyalty, but simply because his first real camera was a Canon. For airshows, his gear choices depend on his goals. For static and ground shots, he favors a 24-70mm lens, but when the action takes off, he reaches for his Canon R1 or R6 with a 100-400mm lens. The high frame rate on both cameras is a game-changer. He’s considered using his 500mm f/4 for airshows, but that setup requires a tripod—and standing still isn’t exactly his style. Maybe one day, if he finds someone willing to babysit the tripod!
Rick is a member of ISAP (International Society for Aviation Photography), NANPA (North American Nature Photographers Association), and several local camera clubs.
Recently, Rick and his wife Heidi—a talented photographer in her own right—moved to the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. Their two cats insist on supervising all post-processing sessions, ensuring that no photo is edited without feline approval.
For more of Rick’s aviation photography, check out his Instagram: @rickg_aviationimages.
If you have any questions about his work or are interested in prints, feel free to reach out—he’d love to hear from you.
Rick
Rick with Editor-in-Chief, Jake
Rick with Supervisor Editor, Rufe