Erik grew up on the west coast of the US, and started shooting photographs with an old box camera at about age 8. In his college days he started backpacking in the mountains and forests of the west. For years shooting "single shots" with a SLR was the primary way of capturing these places. Then in 1995 he started shooting 360 degree panoramas while exploring the coastline. Shortly thereafter VirtualParks was born on the web.

If there is any truth to the idea that 10,000 hours of practice is a foundation for mastery in a field, then this work in panoramic recording of memories represents a certain over-10,000-hour notch in the expertise totem pole.

Erik has a dual background in the technical world of computer science and the creative world of design and photography. VirtualParks is a melding of these interests.

Erik currently works as a user experience designer & analyst in Portland, Ore., and continues to shoot panoramas of wilderness scenes on weekends or vacations.