Richard Miles Photos

My name is Richard Miles and I’ve been in love with photography since I was a teenager, taking photos with an old Rollieflex camera my dad brought home from Germany. My goal is to travel the world taking pictures. I love capturing a moment in time and space. I hope my photos touch people.

I’ve never had confidence that my photography could be more than a passion, so I’ve spent a lifetime in the corporate world. Declaring “I’m an artist” is much harder.

Like a composer who hears a song before writing a note, I can “see” in my mind’s eye what it is I want to create. So this year I set out to “come out” as it were, as an artist.

I took a risk and joined a photographers group who encouraged me to put my photos up for sale. Even though I was insecure, I uploaded my best images hoping someone would buy them.
I’ll never forget the first time a stranger purchased one of my photos. I was out walking when I heard an unfamiliar “cha-ching” sound on my phone, letting me know that someone had bought my photo of Yosemite. “I’m on my way!”

I remember creating that photo, driving over snowy roads to Yosemite in winter. Up an hour before dawn, I venture out in the icy cold. My fingers are freezing! Breathing in the scent of pine, I see the waterfall across the valley, snow piling at the bottom. I sure could use a hot cup of coffee. The sky lightens, I click the shutter. I got the shot. And that’s the image I sold!

Feeling confident, I donated a photo of a vineyard at sunset to a local organization for their annual auction. And it got nothing! Not a single bid, not even a pity or mercy bid. It really shook my confidence. My hopes plummeting, I was ready to give up my dream.

Meanwhile, I had entered photos into a competition at the County Fair, hoping to at least get a mention. I walked up to the exhibit hall, almost turning back several times, my heart pounding. The July heat was oppressive, my palms wet. I hesitated, and finally peeked in. And there was my photo, prominently displayed, right in front! Hanging from my photo was a blue ribbon. First place! To my shock…every one of my photos ribboned. I won first place in the Landscape category. And second place. I was filled with joy.

My confidence restored, I got back to it. I promised myself that I would continue.

Since that first sale, I’ve sold dozens more to people I don’t know. In fact, I’ve sold over 150 photos to people all over the world. It brings me such great joy to think of my artwork in other people’s spaces. I love it when I see pictures of my photos hanging on someone’s wall. And I’m totally in it for that feeling.