His father ran a lumberyard, and his mother was an artist who encouraged her three sons' artistic interests. One of his brothers became an artist, the other became a news photographer. By age 11, he was developing photographs in a darkroom. He joined a camera club in Omaha, 90 miles away, and persuaded his mother to drive him to the meetings. While still in high school, he walked into the Lincoln Journal Star newspaper with his portfolio and was offered a job on the spot. He started working there as soon as he graduated from high school.