They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but how many words does it take to sum up a career in photography? Whatever the number, it is surely not enough to do justice to the incredible career of Kevin Raber.
Raber is a world-renowned photographer whose career has been anything but ordinary.
Originally from Philadelphia, he began his photography journey when he first picked up a camera at age 12, and never looked back. Drawing inspiration from legendary photographers like Ansel Adams, Jay Maisel and Ray Metzker, Raber was driven to master his craft and push the boundaries of his creativity.
Throughout high school, college and beyond, his dedication has never wavered. Countless nights and weekends were spent in dark rooms, developing pictures and learning. Through it all, his passion for photography remained his guiding force.
Although his career has taken him down many different paths, Raber has always viewed life through a camera lens. In the early years of his career, Raber worked as a portrait photographer, established a commercial photography studio, developed software for photographers, and even launched his own website, photopxl.com.
Photopxl.com serves as a thriving community where photographers can connect, share their experiences, learn from others and refine their craft. The website also features many articles covering a wide variety of topics related to photography, including gear reviews, image editing, printing techniques and more. For those looking to deepen their understanding of photography, PhotoPXL is an invaluable resource.
In 2004 Raber took his passion for photography a step further by founding Rockhopper Workshops, leading photographers on immersive expeditions to some of the world’s most remote and breathtaking locations. After all, the best shots aren’t captured from the comfort of a hotel pool.
“I take them to really remarkable places where they can take remarkable photos, experience something out of their comfort zone and return with an unforgettable memory,” Raber says.
Leading these workshops has taken Raber across the globe and allowed him to meet photographers from all walks of life. He has led workshops in picturesque landscapes such as the Palouse wheat lands in southeast Washington, an abandoned Soviet coal mining outpost of Pyramiden on the island of Svalbard, and the breathtaking expanses of Antarctica – a place he has visited 24 times, and where he even got married 10 years ago.
For Raber, the true reward is not just the opportunity to travel to amazing locations; it’s more about passing on the knowledge he’s gained throughout his career and helping fellow photographers refine their craft. He finds great joy in helping other photographers as they grow and develop their skills.
“I really just wanna pay it forward,” says Raber. “I guess you could say my goal right now is educating other people who are interested in photography, and sharing my 50-some-odd years of experience to help them find the same joy that I found in my photography.”
Raber moved to Carmel in 2002 and has felt at home here ever since. He now teaches various photography classes at the Indianapolis Art Center and became their artist in residence in 2022. This role not only allows Raber to teach classes and his workshops, but also gives him access to a traditional darkroom and the other resources that the Art Center has to offer.
Embracing both classic and modern photography techniques, Raber teaches classes about everything from traditional photography and editing to smartphone photography courses.
When asked about how someone might break into photography today, Raber acknowledged the ever-evolving landscape of the industry.
“I think photography as a whole is changing quite a bit; a lot of it is now getting handled by mobile phones,” says Raber. “I teach a mobile phone photography course. I lecture on mobile phone photography all over the place. Considering I used to work with some of the biggest cameras in the world such as the Phase One 150mp XT, what you can do with a mobile phone these days with the apps and the images is quite remarkable. I think the best thing to do is learn how to take pictures starting with your mobile phone. If it is something that you enjoy, then step up to a larger camera.”
Though Raber has been a trailblazer in the shift to digital photography, he still holds a deep appreciation for the traditional ways. For him, a photograph isn’t truly complete until it’s printed.
“You don’t have a photograph until you hold it in your hands,” he says. “Everybody puts images online and digitally in the cloud, but that does nothing. It’s a fleeting moment and it’s gone. You never get a chance to really appreciate and dive into it. “
No one knows what the future holds or where life will take them, but whatever happens, you can be assured that Raber will have a camera in his hands.
Looking ahead, Raber will continue to teach his classes at the Indianapolis Art Center as well as lead photography expeditions to some of the most remote environments on the planet. The next generation of photographers have a lot of catching up to do, but they can be assured that they are in expert hands. Raber’s passion for both photography and teaching makes him an invaluable mentor, ensuring his impact and work will endure for generations to come.
If you would like more information about Kevin Raber or any of his photography offerings, you can visit kevinraber.com, photopxl.com, and rockhopperworkshops.com. You can find info on his courses at the Indy Art Center at indyartcenter.org.
