My Story
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Rex Ziak was born and raised in a small community in the Pacific Northwest. The son of a logger, Rex learned to work hard at an early age.
Rex and his father making firewood to heat the family home
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After high school he taught himself fine-art photography. While still in his early 20's he hitchhiked to Mexico to pursue his informal education, expecting to return home within six months.
Self-portrait: Death Valley.
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Rex became enthralled with the adventure of solo travel in remote wilderness and the indigenous people he met. He continued further south, traversing Central America and most of South America in less than three years.
Rex arrives back into civilization after crossing the Black Jungle of Nicaragua.
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Aware that indigenous people were rapidly losing their unique culture, he found an isolated village where he could document their traditional way of life. He resided there for more than two years, sustaining himself by laboring in the fields.
Rex plows with a team of oxen prior to the planting of corn.
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When Rex returned to America, now in his 30's, he had to adjust to wearing shoes, eating regular meals and speaking English once again. Someone saw his photographs of Mexican villagers, and this led to his first professional photography assignment.
Four brothers pause from planting corn, beans and squash.
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Rex's career as a free-lance photographer took him abroad. His images appeared in publications around the world, including a photo-essay in Life magazine.
A tall ship caught in a mid-Atlantic storm; LIFE magazine.
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In 1990, Rex interrupted his career to defend the last parcel of threatened ancient rainforest in SW Washington state. He devised a unique approach to persuade the corporate owners to protect these trees rather than cutting and selling them. Today the forest is alive, thriving and fully protected.
This photo, along with a rope, persuaded the corporate owners to preserve this forest.
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Rex took an interest in documentary cinematography and worked on several productions.
On assignment in Hawaii.
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In 1993 Rex won an Emmy Award in cinematography for the ABC Television documentary: Tall Ships: High Seas Adventure.
Emmy Award Ceremony at the Plaza Hotel, New York City.
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In the early 1990's, Rex noticed inconsistencies in books describing Lewis and Clark's journey. An entire month had been overlooked by historians. After six years of meticulous research he published his conclusions in 1997.
Bicentennial commemorative stamp.
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At first scholars of Lewis and Clark rejected Rex's new account and challenged his conclusions. But eventually they realized his research was sound and perfectly accurate. His groundbreaking discoveries soon gathered a following of supporters; in 2004 a new National Park was formed.
Oregon Historical Society 2003
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Rex has produced three books on Pacific Northwest history.
The author designing an eight foot long page.
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Rex is a captivating public speaker with a unique ability to completely enthrall his audience. As a three-time distinguished historian for the Oregon Historical Society Rex's rare skill was recently discussed by the executive director in a radio interview.
Rex's presentations are in a class by themselves.
