Very early, photography made an impact on Curtis Neeley's life. His father worked for Eastman Kodak - and some years the Christmas party included a multi-projector travel slide show. Growing up in the small town of Batesville, Arkansas - it was amazing for him to see such well executed images from all around the world. Seeing all there enthralled with those photos, he recognized the power of visual communication and wanted to harness that power.

    Curtis Neeley read everything about photography he could get his hands on. He soon realized photography is expensive and everyone wants to do it. He turned to a 'normal' profession and went to school to become a Mechanical Engineer. Curtis Neeley worked at TRW Vehicle Safety Systems - the world's largest manufacturer of seatbelt systems - and soon learned mechanical engineering was not for him.
 

    The USMC will change you.  If you have not been there - Curtis won't try to describe it for you. If you have - there is no need to.  While stationed in Okinawa, Japan, Curtis returned to his first love - got his first 'good' camera, and says he probably financed a Fuji film plant learning the ropes.

    Curtis enrolled in NYI's photography course. He learned a lot that year. By the year's end he shot cover assignments for "Okinawa Today". He contributed to "Stars and Stripes", as well as working as a staff photographer on the USO "Exploring Okinawa" tour guide. He spent a lot of time behind the camera that year {1991}. Curtis made a lot of mistakes then and a lot of progress.


    You can read a scanned letter he sent home to his brothers from Japan in 1991.  The letter mentions some goals he accomplished and some he may never. One thing he mentions in the letter is a Figure Photo Book. The book is only available as a signed reprint for $1000.

 

    Curtis Neeley studied mechanical engineering, mathematics, music, law, and electronics. He has attended The University of Arkansas, Maryland University, Arkansas State University, Lyons College, New York Institute of Photography, and has two years of electronics with Uncle Sam. He  doesn't know that he uses any of the wide and intense education; Maybe he uses all of it. Either way, he has misplaced his whole past due to his brain injury. (TBI)

    Curtis Neeley once lived in Winslow, Arkansas on the Ozark mountains at the edge of a national forest with his second wife. They had five children between the two of them. Curtis says he loves his first two, but only recognizes them. They live with their mom. His youngest was only two when Curtis had the wreck that destroyed his memories and the car you see below. He has no memories of the youngest pre-accident, but the two of them are in love like few father-son combinations ever will approach...