A photographer since 1967, Ted earned a BA in history from the University of Virginia and an MFA in photography from the University of Florida.

In the 1970's, Ted founded the Kentucky Documentary Photographic Project and was a principal photographer for the President's Commission on Coal. His work has been exhibited at the George Eastman House, the International Center of Photography, the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the White House.

Wathen has worked as a commercial photographer and cofounder of Quadrant Inc. since 1984. He and Bob Hower restarted the Kentucky Documentary Photographic Project in 2014.