Herbert Quick was born in Manistique, Michigan in 1925. In the early 1930s at the age of six he developed an affinity for photography, which is demonstrated through his depictions of the Seils-Sterling Circus. However, in 1943 he put photography on hold to serve in the United States Navy. Quick received the American Campaign and Good Conduct medals for his service in World War II.

In the late 1940s Quick went on to pursue a career in photography. He received his formal training in photography at the Art Center School of Design in Los Angeles, California. During his training he learned fundamental techniques in photography such as commercial and zone system applications. He met and was given guidance by Edward Weston who was then suffering physical decline from Parkinson’s disease. He was befriend by Dorothea Lange and for a time worked as her printer, He later took course at Art Center School of Design from Fred Archer and Ansel Adams, maintaining a correspondence with the latter. Quick also received guidance from Max Yavno, his life-long friend, who helped him further develop his style of photography. Quick’s main subjects to photograph were architecture, portraits, and landscapes.

From 1950 to 1958 Quick owned Sirks’ Camera shop in Riverside, California. It was only a matter of time in 1964, until he became a staff photographer and lecturer at the University of California, Riverside, introducing large format photography into the curriculum. In 1975 he became a member of the Photography Advisory Committee at Riverside City College. In 1982 he also served on the Advisory Committee for the development of premium black-and-white photographic paper for the Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester, New York.

In1975 he became the Manager of Photographic Services at the University of California, Riverside. However, in the early 1980s, Quick’s position as manager was in jeopardy due to university cut backs. However, there was an outpour of letters from faculty, former students, and community members urging university administrative officials to retain Quick’s photographic services on campus. Quick went on to be manager until 1996.

Not only did his career in photographic education flourish, so did his artistic career. Quick was showcased in many one-man and group exhibitions in galleries and museums, such as the Camera Work Gallery; Palos Verdes Art Center; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, International Museum of Photography at the George Eastman House; the Norton Simon Museum; National Museum of Canada; and the Museum of Modern Art in Mexico City, among others. Some of Quick’s most notable work are the Seils Sterling Circus, 1931; Bath House, Lake Elsinore, California, 1951; portraits of Kid Ory, 1946; Carousel, Tilden Park, Berkeley, California, 1952; My Kitchen Sink, 1966; and Guard, Pan Pacific Auto Show, 1970. However, his most loved work was the depiction of growth and development of California, especially the city of Riverside.

In 2006 Quick passed away at the age of 81.