Welcome to Richard Francis Topper Photography. I am a photographer living in Tahoe City, California, above beautiful Lake Tahoe. My work encompasses spectacular panoramic sunrises and sunsets, mountain vistas and wildflowers from the Sierra. I also feature exotic landscapes and cultural photography from Bali, ballooning above the Nevada desert, fall foliage from Vermont, ocean vistas from Big Sur and landscapes from throughout America.

I have over three thousand photos in my gallery. The online gallery is searchable by subject, location, date and image name or number. Take some time to browse the categories in the gallery. I hope you find the same peace and serenity in my photography that I feel when I am creating my work.

My journey in photography began three years ago. I picked up a camera and found that taking pictures was meditation for me. My only exposure to photography was as a ski model working with action photographers. The time I spent skiing with them introduced me to the world of light and color. My 15 years in Tahoe taught me about the earth, sky and water. The synergy of light, color, earth, sky and water is the essence of my work.

When I create my photography, I do not focus on the technical aspects but rather I become entranced by my subject. I rarely use a tripod because it breaks the intimate contact with the camera, which is the gateway between the outside world and my soul. By holding my camera I dance with my subject, moving to the visual rythms, exploring the nuances of the moment. I lose all track of time and space when nature is performing in all of its splendor.

I do not use any filters and I do not enhance or crop my images. The image I produce is the image I experienced. By keeping the purity of the image, the image becomes a conduit for the feeling of the moment. That feeling manifests itself in the viewer in a unique way, because it is the same connection to the soul that I experienced when taking the image. Each soul connection is different and personal, conjuring up memories sometimes locked up inside the vault of the here and now.

All of my work is printed using a state of the art, archival print process using the finest archival ink and paper. I frame and matte the artwork using acid free materials and UV glass to create an image whose brilliant color will be enjoyed for years.

Visit Lake of the Sky Gallery in Tahoe City, above Fiamma, where my work is exclusively featured.

Important Notice: Richard Topper copyrights all images and content appearing on the Richard Francis Topper web site. This site is intended for viewing only. Commercial or personal use of any of these images or design without the written permission of Richard Francis Topper Photography is prohibited under United States and International copyright laws. Copyright 2003 RichardTopper.com, Inc. All rights reserved.