During his early years, as writer David Leighton shared in Arizona Highways magazine, "Manley grew up in the Verde Valley, a virtual playground of wonder for a boy who loved the outdoors.
He fished with his father in Oak Creek Canyon, camped near the Verde River and climbed the ladders to Montezuma Castle to explore its upper rooms.
"[1] Manley took an early interest in photography and began taking pictures in grade school and later as a Boy Scout, earned a merit badge for his photographic work.
During his time in college, he saw a picture by noted Arizona photographer Esther Henderson, which inspired him to take photography more seriously.
In 1954, he and professional partner Naurice "Reese" Koonce, who had worked together at Western Ways, opened Ray Manley Commercial Photography on Broadway Boulevard in Tucson.
Despite language difficulties, an agreement was reached and Manley remained at the window of the apartment for several hours until he got the nighttime image he desired.
[1] Manley traveled to many spots around the world that he wanted to photograph and the images he captured were published in such publications as Life, Look, The Saturday Evening Post, Popular Science, National Geographic and his own books.