James D. Peterson

Jim Peterson grew up in northwestern New Mexico, and has lived on both coasts (in California and Delaware) as well as in Illinois, Texas, Missouri, and many places in the West. He has been a photographer for over four decades. He earned two degrees (a BA in Music and a PhD in Biochemistry) from the University of Chicago, but after postdoctoral work left the academic world for a long and varied career in telecommunications and computer software. He worked at Bell Labs in Illinois and then at GTE Communication Systems in Phoenix for over two decades, and held positions that ranged from highly technical assignments to planning and management roles.

Upon retirement from that career, 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 seven different non-profit organizations. His fine art photography has been featured in several galleries in Phoenix and Sedona, and has been purchased by collectors worldwide. A wide range of his works can be seen online at www.JamesPeterson.name.

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 believes he is happily serving his mission.

All of Jim's images are available in custom sizes and are offered in three fine finishes: standard photographic papers, fine art prints on canvas (stretched on a frame like an oil painting, and ready to hang), and stunning glossy prints on aluminum panels (ready to hang). Contact Jim at 928-554-4340 or jdp3az@yahoo.com for ordering information.


Portfolio:

Infrared Photos by Jim Peterson

I have been making infrared photos for over a year now (as of August 2015), and continue to be fascinated with the aesthetic possibilities this opens up. It's like having a new pair of eyes, or maybe like being transported to a new planet.

As always, fine art prints of these images are available in a variety of sizes and finishes at http://jamespeterson.photoshelter.com . All images Copyright James D. Peterson - all rights reserved. All images are available for purchase as fine prints and stock photos - contact Jim Peterson at 928-554-4340 or jdp3az@yahoo.com.

Old 3759, Kingman, Arizona “Old 3759, Kingman, Arizona”

This massive steam locomotive is retired from the Santa Fe Railroad and now on display at a roadside park in Kingman, Arizona. But in this color infrared image, it appears to be bursting out of the past, more than willing to rule the rails yet again! You can see a larger version of this photo and purchase fine prints at www.JamesPeterson.name .

Saint Mary's Church, Kingman, Arizona “Saint Mary's Church, Kingman, Arizona”

A historic site in an Old West town comes alive in this color infrared image. You can see a larger version of this photo and purchase fine prints at www.JamesPeterson.name .

Bisbee Home and Garden “Bisbee Home and Garden”

This makeshift hillside house in the old mining town of Bisbee, Arizona, comes to life in a color infrared photo. You can see a larger version of this photo and purchase fine prints at www.JamesPeterson.name .

Paradise Misplaced #3 - Sulphur Springs Valley, Arizona “Paradise Misplaced #3 - Sulphur Springs Valley, Arizona”

An abandoned home in an agricultural area of southeastern Arizona seems to resound with the spirits of its former inhabitants in this color infrared image. You can see a larger version of this photo and purchase fine prints at www.JamesPeterson.name .

Paradise Misplaced #2: Sulphur Springs Valley, Arizona “Paradise Misplaced #2: Sulphur Springs Valley, Arizona”

This broad valley in Southeastern Arizona has seen better days, and has a number of abandoned homes and other structures as a result. This house is along Bonita Road (bonita, ironically enough, means "beautiful" in Spanish). I can't help wondering who lived here and how they felt when they had to leave.

You can see a larger version of this photo and purchase fine prints at www.JamesPeterson.name .

Windmill and Cottonwoods near Dos Cabezas, Arizona “Windmill and Cottonwoods near Dos Cabezas, Arizona”

There's a lot of wide open space in the Sulphur Springs Valley of southeastern Arizona - it dwarfs the windmill in this color infrared image.

You can see a larger version of this photo and purchase fine prints at www.JamesPeterson.name .

Thumb Butte and Yuccas, Atascosa Mountains, Arizona “Thumb Butte and Yuccas, Atascosa Mountains, Arizona”

Here's another example of the beautiful and sacred places you might come across when you get off the beaten path in Arizona. And if you hanker to get off the beaten path, you have a lotta choices around here! This rugged peak, along a back road between Nogales and Aravaipa, is nicely highlighted against a clear sky in this infrared image.

You can see a larger version of this photo and purchase fine prints at www.JamesPeterson.name .

Lone Ponderosa near Sunset Crater, Arizona “Lone Ponderosa near Sunset Crater, Arizona”

Here's an intrepid conifer elegantly enduring the elements in the midst of what was once a volcanic inferno. Infrared light brings out the drama and moodiness of this scene.

You can see a larger version of this photo and purchase fine prints at www.JamesPeterson.name .

West Fork Mysterioso, Arizona “West Fork Mysterioso, Arizona”

This image is from a hike in the West Fork of Oak Creek, north of Sedona. The colors, as created by the color infrared processing, emphasize the canyon's feeling of being in a fantasy world.

You can see a larger version of this photo and purchase fine prints at www.JamesPeterson.name .

Looking Up to Cathedral Rock “Looking Up to Cathedral Rock”

This is the view along the bank of Sedona's Oak Creek a little upstream from Red Rock Crossing and Crescent Moon Ranch. I've photographed this scene before (actually, pretty much every photographer in Sedona has...), but on this particular day the conditions (sky, clouds, morning sunlight, etc.) were perfect for an infrared image.

You can see a larger version of this photo and purchase fine prints at www.JamesPeterson.name .

Cathedral Rock from Templeton Trail, Sedona “Cathedral Rock from Templeton Trail, Sedona ”

The Century Plants were blooming profusely in early June, 2015, thanks to an unusually wet spring. They really show off in infrared light.

You can see a larger version of this photo and purchase fine prints at www.JamesPeterson.name .

Century Plant and Lee Mountain, Arizona “Century Plant and Lee Mountain, Arizona”

This Century Plant was blooming brilliantly along the Courthouse Loop trail south of Sedona. It stands out in this infrared image.

You can see a larger version of this photo and purchase fine prints at www.JamesPeterson.name .