Joel was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland and has lived in Fairfax, Virginia for the past 36 years. He went to college at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in Rochester, New York, where he enrolled in photography classes while earning a degree in Graphic Design. 

Joel has a full time job working in publishing, graphic design, and event photography. Being stuck indoors all day, motivates him to document and photograph wildlife, nature, and his outdoor surroundings during the evenings and weekends. He attempts to capture the local wildlife in unique and unusual situations with the hope that his photos inspire others to care about the conservation and protection of our natural wonders. 

Songbirds, herons, and waterfowl are some of Joel’s favorite subjects to shoot. Fortunately, the East Coast offers him many diverse photo opportunities throughout the year. He especially likes the changing of the seasons and how each season brings migrating birds and waterfowl to the area and how the local scenic spots change depending on the season. Joel also loves shooting in the wintertime when everything seems quieter, calmer, and less hectic. He’s had had the good fortune to shoot black bears in the Shenandoah Mountains, bald eagles along the Potomac River, tundra swans and canvasbacks on the Choptank River, and vintage schooners on the Chesapeake Bay.

Joel currently exhibits his photographs in Arches Gallery at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, Virginia, and Gallery 75 at the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, Virginia.