Bill Draper grew up on the James River. As a child, he spent entire days fishing, hopping from rock to rock, and splashing in the water. As he grew and found a 40-year career, his focus changed, but his connection to the river didn’t.
While he dabbled in photography in college, it wasn’t until he retired that his passions for the James River Park System and captured images bore fruit. His now-iconic images in and around the Park are what inspired Camera to Canvas, our upcoming fundraiser. It was an idea proposed by artist Julie Fritz – what if we harnessed the work of our region’s best artists and your photographs to somehow make the Park better?
Bill is now a board member of this organization. His work is splashed across both this website and our social media channels. He told us that the proximity to nature is what drives his connection to the Park and his commitment to helping it thrive.
“When I was a kid, we never saw an eagle. Now, in a single day I can see 30. Sometimes I forget that I’m in Richmond and think I’m in the wilderness.”
That’s the beauty of the James River Park System, and for capturing that and sharing his images, Bill Draper is our ParkStar.
Camera to Canvas is the 13th of this month, and you can learn more here.
