Sedona Photographer Jim Peterson grew up in northwestern New Mexico, and has lived on both coasts as well as in Illinois, Texas, Missouri, and many places in the West. He earned a B.A. in Music and a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Chicago, and first took up photography while in graduate school. His interest in it persisted while he worked as a research Biochemist for five years and then moved on to a long career as an engineer, planner, and manager in the Telecommunications industry.
Upon retirement, he redirected his energy to his lifelong artistic passion by starting a professional photography business. In addition, over the years he has given back to the community by serving as a board member for a total of eight different non-profit organizations. His fine art photography has been featured in numerous galleries and exhibits in Phoenix and Sedona, and has been purchased by collectors worldwide.
Jim’s work is inspired by a lifelong love of the natural world, which in turn was a very predictable result of growing up in the Southwest. If his images convey a bit of reverence for our threatened planet and its beautiful territories and inhabitants, then he feels that he is happily serving his mission.
In recent years, Jim has embraced digital infrared photography to broaden the range of his artistic expression, and has built a significant body of work in that medium. His works have won prizes and been nominated as finalists in several prestigious international competitions, and his infrared image Half Moon over Cockscomb Ridge recently took the “First Place – Outstanding Achievement” award in one of those competitions.