Timeline

1912

Born on Aug 6, 1912 in Hanford, CA

1929

Introduced to Leica and Graflex cameras

Studied cinematography while attending, successively, Stanford University and Pomona College. He did his final year at the University of Southern California where he met his wife, Margaret.

1939

Began his career as a photographer

1941

Began working in the photo department at North American where he also met the photographer Brett Weston, with whom he formed a lifelong friendship.

1944

Took a job as a printer at Gasparcolor

1946 - 1954

Went to work as an assistant to photographers Valentino Sarra, Ruzzie Green, and John Engstead on commercial jobs

1946

Began photographing Norma Jeane Dougherty (Marilyn Monroe), then a model provided through the Blue Book Models agency

1952 - 1955

Worked as the television lighting director at KLAC

1955 - 1962

Returned to freelance work and was on retainer at Globe Photos, covering the entertainment industry.

1955

His first on-location assignment was for Giant, where his job was to shadow James Dean.

1962

Went into semi-retirement, only occasionally shooting stills on motion pictures sets but primarily pursuing his own photographic interests.

1970

For some time during the 1970s, Richard experimented with grinding pigment and coating his own pigment transfer papers to create carbros.

1979

Met photographer Reece Vogel, who was also interested in making carbros

1984

Richard and Reece rescued materials and equipment from McGraw Colorgraph when its defunct plant was being shut down. Reece eventually printed the black and white silver prints of the portfolio of Dick's pictures of the Westons.

2010

Died on October 15, 2010 at the age of 98