About Me
I'm Ralph Curtis
Let me introduce myself,
I was a Photo Retoucher long before I was a photographer, editing photos for magazines such as Vanity Fair, Vogue, Glamour, Victoria's Secret, National Geographic, LL Bean, Kohl's, and more. The editing process taught me about photography and what makes a quality image. I started to combine my passion for the outdoors with my newfound love for photography. I was a self-taught Photographer who knew more about nature than I did my camera. However, I was passionate about learning and would sit for hours, often in a ghillie suit, blending in with my surroundings to photograph wildlife.
Photographing wildlife allowed me the freedom to experiment and learn about the importance of lighting and its impact on storytelling. Lighting dictates the amount of color, the mood, the contrast, and the overall "feel" of the image. While photographing wildlife in the woods, prairies, and forests, I was inspired by the narratives I could tell about landscapes, wildflowers, and mushrooms.
Due to an evolving macular degeneration, I shifted my focus to woodland and mystical lantern photography. I was again inspired to play with light to create a magical glowing effect. These days, you will find me lying on the forest floor, camera level with the subject, as I create artistic compositions with my camera and light.
#ExplorerPhotography
Follow me on Instagram @explorerPhotography