Russell Dean Roberts

As I grew up I recall how photographs of family and friends, moments in our lives, stuck with me. Photos that captured a moment in time that we can gaze upon and cherish made an impression on me. A nostalgic feeling that would go deep. Especially now since so many in those photos are no longer with us. And even the changes in our lives that no longer resemble what was around us then. The cars, buildings, hair styles, the clothes we wore, just about everything is different now. I remember wanting to capture as much of that as I could. I did eventually get a camera in high school, a Kodak instant camera much like a Polaroid. But I didn’t capture much with it. It was expensive to refill. But I do have all the photos mom and grandpa took during those years. I got the photo bug from them.

So studying anything photography related in high school or college didn’t happen, nor did I have any dreams or aspirations of becoming a photographer one day. It actually wasn’t until our first child was born (1992) that I purchased my first SLR film camera, a Minolta Maxxum 3xi. During the proceeding years, I resembled the paparazzi taking photos of our kids every move trying to document as much of their early years as possible. After a couple of years with the Minolta I got a Nikon N90s. That camera rocked! Then I moved to a Canon EOS IX that used APS film instead of 35mm (I bet most of you don’t remember that film). Then around 2000 I started into digital with a Nikon Coolpix 990. In those days digital cameras were lacking a lot. In 2002 a got a Minolta Dimage 7. Then in 2005 I finally got into the DSLR realm with a Canon EOS Rebel XT. It was so cool to have a DSLR! I used that camera alone for 9 years before diving into all kinds of other DSLR’s, mirrorless cameras, iPhones, and all kinds of gear.

During those years photographing the kids, I did get out and do some landscape photography (my love), but not much. Working 60 hours or more a week as a truck driver and raising three girls didn’t leave any time really. Then our oldest was halfway through high school and in the color guard with the marching band when I made it to one of their competitions at Vanderbilt. I took my Rebel XT and longest lens and got a bunch of photos of her from the stands. I hadn’t used the camera in a while, but was back in the groove. I eventually became the bands somewhat official photographer over the next 11 years as all our girls were in band. It was cool being on the field amongst the kids during halftime shows on Friday nights and along the sidelines during their competitions. Also getting some really good photos of them before and after their shows. During that time I also kept upgrading gear, and that eventually led to photographing NFL games. Now that was a hoot!

But landscape photography is still my favorite kind of work. The tranquil feeling I experience when I am out there doing landscapes is bliss. When I’m at a location, setting up my composition and waiting for the "good light” is therapy for me. That time is meaningful as it provides ample time to reflect and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us all. But you know, any time I have a camera in hand and I am looking at a scene, whether it’s in nature, the streets, a sporting event, in a studio, or anything, is therapy for me. It takes my mind away from everything else going on in my life.

I hope you will enjoy and get something out of what I do here on this site. Much of what will get posted here will be from my travels as a truck driver all over this beautiful country of ours, and our personal travels. Not just landscapes, but pretty much anything that strikes me as really a good shot. In those posts I will share the story behind each shot, and some technical stuff too. And please hang in there for this is a new thing for me. I am sure it will take a little time to get my writing skills to where it will make sense to you.

Take care,

Russell