Born a long, long time ago at the edge of the Flint Hills in Kansas. Grew up in an oil refinery town. Lived in the latter part of the depression and first memories are of oil refinery smells, dust storms and the second world war.

Attended the Kansas City Art Institute for a couple of years where studies included; drawing, illustration and fine art painting, both oil painting and watercolors.

Married to Nettie in the mid-50's and had four daughters. Worked as an illustrator for Boeing for nine years. Participated in a small way on a big program while at Boeing. Worked on the Saturn V booster for the Apollo program.

Worked as an illustrator for a small company that had developed and built a prototype of an agricultural aircraft with a new way of distributing material.

Worked as an illustrator for a small manufacturer in the middle of Kansas named Excel Industries Inc. Became the Director of Engineering in a few years and stayed there for thirty years.

Became interested in photography and found it useful in preparing instruction manuals. Interest increased in photography when at about the age of 40 began to backpack in New Mexico, Colorado, Arkansas and Isle Royal located in Lake Superior.

Began presenting multi-image programs using multiple slide projectors, computerized fade-dissolve equipment and high fidelity sound. Volunteered for the Sedgwick County Zoo for a few years, photographing and preparing multi-image shows for their membership campaigns. Prepared and presented multi-image programs to show with the Wichita Symphony Youth Concerts.

Since retirement worked some free-lance photography and taught basic photography to the general public.

Now develops DVD programs for businesses, organizations and individuals using digital photography and computers.

Served for fourteen years as a trustee for the Dyck Arboretum of the Plains in Hesston Kansas.

Favorite places to shoot photos beside Kansas are Utah, Montana, Canada, Alaska and Minnesota.

Favorite places to shoot in Kansas: Most any place but find the Flint Hills the most satisfying and fascinating. The barren hills populated by a tree now and then, grasses of all sizes and colors (some grasses can grow to incredible heights), cattle and ghost towns. Cowboys are not rare and even now and then one can see a few buffalo if you know where to look. .

New Beginnings is our first book. Both for Sammie and myself. Sammie and I worked together on other things for a while and became friends. When I read Sammie's poems I could see my photographic images in his work. We pasted together a few prototype books, liked them a lot and took them to the Mennonite Press in Newton Kansas. The Printer was extremely helpful and patient with us in the preparation and production of the book. We intend to publish more books in the near future

Though there is a major age difference between Sammie and I we are able to get "into each other's heads" so to speak and see what each is trying to do with our work.

Duane Graham
February, 2007