It is no wonder that he has been described as “an artist that consistently produces spectacular images utilizing diverse techniques that seem to bridge the gap between traditional photography and other media”. After winning “Best of Show” in a juried mixed media art show recently, the director of the competition described Vern as “an incredibly sensitive artist that has a really good sense of our environment and what people like to see. He just brings the viewer into the piece”.

Born in San Bernadino, California in 1945, Vern was the son of middle-class parents and spent his early childhood on a ranch in Chandler, Arizona. In 1961 his West Covina, California high school wood shop teacher introduced him to photography by asking him to stick around after class and pose with a wood lathe for the yearbook photographer. When the two hour shoot was over, Vern knew he wanted to be a photographer and the next day was successful in convincing the annual advisor that he was serious about becoming a photographer and would do whatever it might take to meet that goal.

Upon graduation from high school, in 1963 he became a press photographer. First, working for a small daily and later a large metropolitan newspaper where he won numerous awards for his creative and edgy style. In the following years he worked as a wedding, portrait, forensic, commercial, medical, arson, aerial and fine art photographer all the while fine tuning his creativity and artistic skills.

During the past 38 years Vern has always pursued varied interests, in addition to his continued passion for photography. He spent 18 years as an Oregon firefighter/paramedic/medical examiner and 20 years as the CEO of Oregon’s most successful air ambulance company, Air Life of Oregon which he founded and grew into a $24 million company.

About 4 years ago Vern began to experiment by combining his high quality black and white medium and large format, compensated development, film techniques with the latest in digital scanning and printing technologies. He found that images he visualized in his mind could now be created as large format canvas presentations. Additionally, Vern has taken his art to another level by utilizing acrylics, varnishes, brushes and tools to enhance and protect his finished art. The end result often generates questions of “How did you do that?” or, “Is it a painting or a photograph?”

Vern continues to expand his creativity, by exploring the opportunities of capturing different elements of our everyday world and bringing them together in one continuous visual expression for his and the viewers enjoyment. One image may be exactly as it was seen by the casual observer and the next may be a compilation of the necessary elements to portray a mood, feeling or experience. Recently, while lecturing at a photographic seminar, Vern shared his artistic work flow by saying; “My images are usually a product of something I’ve captured earlier in my mind……and released a duplicate image on canvas. I call it; being in the zone. It is a very satisfying experience when it all comes together and you witness the viewer’s excitement.”

As Vern continues to push the envelope with his large mixed art creations he realizes that, for him, the label “Photographer” is no longer applicable. Almost daily he consciously realizes that he has become an Image Creator and that photography is only one small part of the total product. Creation is much more than simply pushing the shutter.

Vern’s talent is best summarized by the Executive Director of an internationally association when she said “He has the eye. He can produce these spectacular photographs, and I don’t know how he does it……Vern is truly….an artist.”