Biography

O'Neil Arnold discovered photography through the lens of a telescope.

As a stargazing teenager, O'Neil learned to shoot and process black-and-white film so he could document the stars and planets he saw through his telescope. As a physics student at Berea College, he applied those skills not only in the classroom, but also in the newsroom, working as a photographer for the college news bureau.

It was during his years at Berea that O'Neil discovered the combination of science and art that continues to mark his photography: an understanding of the properties of light and motion blended with creativity to unleash the camera's power to communicate.

From physics to photos
After graduating with a bachelor's degree in physics in 1985, O'Neil entered Ohio University's School of Visual Communication and earned a master of arts degree in photojournalism.

Over a two-year tenure at a daily newspaper, he earned five Kentucky Press Association awards for his news photography and photo illustrations. O'Neil also worked for a magazine publishing company, creating cover and editorial images for three nationally circulated publications.

Corporate and editorial focus
In response to a growing demand for his corporate work, he established O'Neil Arnold Photography in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1994. The following year, he relocated to Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and spent five years working for corporate and editorial clients in Europe.

He returned to the U.S. in 1999, and continues to create images for international companies, as well as local and regional clients.

O'Neil's photos have won numerous awards and been published in major metropolitan newspapers and many magazines, including National Geographic Traveler.