Origins & Early Influences

I was born in Buffalo, New York, and raised in a home grounded in the belief that America’s cultural diversity was not just something to tolerate, but something to celebrate — a force that could shape empathy, imagination, and identity. My German and Sicilian roots ran deep, and family traditions like my grandmother Nina Barone’s Feast of St. Joseph table each March 19th taught me that community and giving were sacred acts. These early experiences gave me a lasting respect for culture, faith, and human dignity — values that continue to shape my photography today.

A Lens Awakens in Japan

My journey into photography began far from home, in Japan during the 1970s, where I served as a United States Marine. Stationed there for about three years, I traveled from Okinawa to the northern town of Misawa, always carrying a camera.

In those years, the lens became my quiet companion. Through it, I began documenting the people and rhythms of daily life — the open markets, quiet shrines, fishermen, and families I met along the way. Japan awakened something in me: the realization that every person has a story, and that beauty exists in the ordinary if one only takes the time to see it.

Those early color photographs — vivid portraits of street vendors, schoolchildren, and daily rituals — captured the warmth, discipline, and grace of Japanese life. They became the foundation of my lifelong love for storytelling through images.

The Turning Point

Decades later, what began in Japan found its next chapter. After years of professional life in the United States, I began feeling the pull to return to the creative calling that had never left me. In 2016, my work was first published in the European magazine Cool Nederlands — a small but pivotal moment that reignited my path. Soon after, I made a life-changing decision: I left corporate America behind and devoted myself fully to photography.

As I wrote on my website: “I realized that I am more of an artist than a photographer.” This was the beginning of Stories About Life — my personal and professional vision.

Evolution as an Artist and Humanitarian

My photography evolved naturally — from aesthetic curiosity to editorial, lifestyle, and eventually humanitarian storytelling. In time, I began traveling internationally again, this time with purpose. A defining moment came during humanitarian work in South Africa, where I volunteered alongside community leaders and witnessed the transformative power of visual storytelling. That experience deepened my belief that photography could serve humanity, not just art. It could connect, educate, and heal.

As I told ShoutOut Arizona: “I am an editorial, lifestyle, and humanitarian photographer.”

A Storyteller of People and Place

Today, based in Phoenix, Arizona, I continue to live and work by that vision. My lens has taken me across continents — from the quiet streets of Guaymas, Mexico, to the inner cities of the United States — always seeking the human thread that ties us together.

On my official site, I summarize this simply: “As an artist, I find joy in combining my love for photography and writing to express my thoughts and emotions in a resonant way.” I see myself as both photographer and storyteller — not only capturing faces and places, but weaving words that give those images meaning. My portfolio has been featured in international magazines including Éclair Magazine (Paris–New York–Los Angeles), where my work was described as humanitarian in spirit and editorial in style.

Reflection and Renewal

Recently, I’ve described myself as transitioning toward photojournalism, focusing on people in their everyday lives. As I wrote on social media: “I have retired as a photographer earlier this year. My focus now is more toward me being a photojournalist capturing people in their everyday lives.” This next chapter isn’t about slowing down; it’s about going deeper — observing, listening, and documenting the stories that reveal who we are.

The Journey Continues

My life has taken many turns — from the discipline of the Marine Corps to the unpredictability of humanitarian travel, from the structure of corporate life to the freedom of creative service. Each chapter has added a new layer to the way I see and photograph the world.

I believe that diversity, service, and empathy are the true subjects of my work. My goal is to create photographs that don’t just record a moment, but honor the human spirit within it — images that invite reflection, gratitude, and connection.

This is the story of a life shaped by change — a story that began with a young Marine and a camera in Japan, and continues through every face, every landscape, every act of kindness I’ve been privileged to witness.

“My journey has taken me to many places in my mind and in the world. From Okinawa to South Africa, from Buffalo to Guaymas, I’ve learned that we all share the same quiet need — to be seen, to be understood, and to be remembered.”

Verified References

·       rickrusch.com/whoami

·       shoutoutarizona.com/meet-rick-rusch-editorial-lifestyle-humanitarian-photographer

·       facebook.com/rick.rusch.766

·       rickrusch.com

·       boldjourney.com/news/meet-rick-rusch

“Enjoy Your Life - Break the Rules”