Photographer
Jim Merritt
A native of Ridgway, Pennsylvania, Jim grew
up with an inherent appreciation of the natural world, its beauty and
its fragility. Spending most of his life here on the edge of the
Allegheny National Forest, a region so rich in natural history, Jim
enjoys hiking and hunting in its woodlands, fishing and canoeing the
Clarion River, while capturing the character of its landscape and
creatures on film. A graduate of the Art Institute of
Pittsburgh, Jim bought his first 35mm camera in 1974 while a student
there. Once known for his limited edition fine art prints, the early
years of Jim’s photography were spent capturing images to use as
reference for his wildlife pen & ink drawings and watercolor paintings. As director of the Graphics Department for
the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning & Development
Commission, Jim became fascinated with the challenge of digital
photography. He credits those years at North Central for giving him
training in the intricate applications of Adobe PhotoShop and providing
a venue for him to develop skills and competencies to create in the new
art form. Using a Nikon D80, Jim is mastering the
marvel of digital photography and the once controversial "digital
darkroom." Fascinated with the "Pennsylvania Wilds,"
Jim hopes his photography, now available for sale at galleries within
the "Wilds," will foster a universal appreciation for and a desire to
safeguard the land, its creatures, and its resources. You can find Jim's work at his website
www.jimmerrittphotography.com 