Rick Turner

“As a new resident in 2009, and especially as a photographer,” Rick said,” I fell in love with the wildlife and peaceful beauty of Turtle Creek. It became my ‘studio’ and oasis in the middle of the city.” So much so, that he turned his primary creative focus to photographing the everchanging landscapes and vast variety of wildlife inhabiting the historic, natural creek in the center of Dallas.

Rick’s work is commissioned by interior designers and architects, such as three photographic art installations featuring 350 constantly changing images of Turtle Creek wildlife and landscapes in The Renaissance on Turtle Creek Condominiums; images on metal and canvas for private residences in Dallas, Houston, and Austin; and vistas of The Big Bend for a ranch in West Texas.

At the behest of the late Ms. Caroline Hunt, who also loved Turtle Creek and made it internationally famous by founding The Mansion with her family, Rick’s limited edition, coffee table book, “The Nature of Turtle Creek,” is in The David Keith Sands Collection, a legacy and tribute to her late son, in The Dallas Historical Society. The book was originally commissioned as an appreciation gift for outgoing Board Members of The Turtle Creek Association.

From Turtle Creek, Rick began to photograph the landscapes and wildlife of the Trinity River. In each of the four years that he submitted entries to the Trinity River Photography Contest, he won awards in every professional category and, ultimately, the Grand Prize, from more than 800 entries.

When he won First Place in the Wildlife category in 2015, Rick said, “This award means very much to me and it helps to shine light on The Trinity Wetlands Project, which is vital to Dallas and has enormous potential. I love to photograph the often-unrealized, natural beauty of the Trinity River.”

Subsequently, Rick turned his focus to shooting the Big Bend, Palo Duro Canyon, the Texas Hill Country, Galveston and South Padre Island. He has also photographed landscapes in Oregon, Colorado, Arizona, and Canada.       

After completing his studies in Radio, Television, Film at the University of Texas at Austin, Rick worked for a motion picture company and a photography production firm before opening his own photography studio in Houston, specializing in advertising, architecture, golf courses and portraits.

In 2009, he moved to Dallas to marry his college sweetheart, Dedie Leahy, a devoted Turtle Creek resident of many years. Their beloved rescue Golden Retriever of 15 years, Maggie, named “The Belle of Turtle Creek” by Rick, accompanied him on his many shoots on the creek, Dedie on many walks, and remains with them always in spirit.

His wildlife and landscape fine art prints are available on his website: rickturnerphotography.com

“My work is a passion and a gift,” Rick says, “and I welcome fellow lovers of nature and wildlife to join me in seeing God’s beauty through my lens.”