about
Richard Jacobson is a photographer based in Gwinn, Michigan. He began his practice in 2013 as a self-taught portrait photographer while also serving in the military, this is where his photography became both a discipline and a means of creative expression. Having worked across Ohio, Colorado, and Michigan, his work has developed a distinct visual language defined by controlled lighting and the sculpting of the human form through shadow and contrast. He is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in art and design with an emphasis in Photography at Northern Michigan University, where he continues to refine both the technical and conceptual foundations of his practice. His work is deeply informed by personal experience, drawing from his time in military service and his journey as an organ transplant recipient. Through this lens, Jacobson approaches photography as a means of confronting and translating lived experience into visual form. His images explore themes of survival, identity, and psychological tension, shaped by a heightened awareness of time, fragility, and the weight of a second chance. His practice reflects an evolving perspective-grounded in resilience, introspection, and a commitment to storytelling through the photographic medium.
