Hi, my name is Ryan R. Jackson! Wait, so who’s Ray Nard Imagemaker!?

That’s still me! :) I use my middle name Ray Nard, as an artist name and homage to my late father who mentored my artistic nature and shared the same name.

I began photographing in 1999 with a used Pentax K1000 my older brother gave me. In 2001, I enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a Photographer's Mate. From 2001-2008, I traveled the West Coast and South East Asia viewing the world through a Sailor's lens. After a few awards and an honorable discharge, I returned to Michigan and graduated from GVSU with BA in photography.

Since 2013, I have focused on Dance, Documentary and Stage photography. Now my work is routinely published in the Revue, and other West Michigan art publications and blogs.