Born and raised in rural Indiana, educated as an historian and teacher at Purdue University, and about to complete a career as a law enforcement officer and administrator, baby boomer Quentin Robinson is looking forward not back through the lens of his camera and sharing what he sees. I first met Quentin "on-line" as we both competed at several Internet photo contests. Since that time we've had the pleasure to meet on several occasions to share our passion for photography.
Quentin Uses his photography to give voice to his experiences. Having seen the best and the worst of the human condition during his 28 years of service to the City of Lafayette Police Department, Quentin has an eye and a heart for drama and tragedy, wonder and triumph. Quentin uses his photography as well to give vent to a creative side that feeds not only on his attraction to the attitude, activity, vibrancy and cultural diversity of the city but is also nurtured by his deeply rooted appreciation of the people, traditions, and beauty of rural America.
Says Quentin: "My life as a photographer began as I filled dozens of boxes with bad snapshots while I chronicled the events of my life. In 1999 I picked up and fell in love with my first digital camera. Unfortunately it belonged to my employer. I knew right away there was something different about that camera. Instant gratification! A serious love affair was in the making. A few months later I bought my own. Sony Mavica. As a serious computer addict I also began visiting many of the sites on the Internet devoted to photography and digital photography. Much can, and has, been argued about the merits of digital photography over traditional film but in my case the only argument that really made any sense was that the quick turn around, ability to edit my own shots and the availability of many ' photo critiquing' sites on the Internet allowed me to learn a great deal about photography in a 'relatively' short time. I quickly saw both the advantage and fun of being able to create digital art.
I am still learning the art of photography and I hope never to reach a point where I say I know it all. When a person reaches that point they need to pack up the equipment and call it a day. What I have learned thus far is that light has a magic quality and that sometimes my camera can be made to capture that magic. You never know just when or where you might find that magic light but I am learning a few of the places where it hides and now I go there to seek it out. I learned early on the importance of pixels and I'm now using a Fuji S 2 Pro with pixels to spare and some great Nikon glass. While the Sony CD 1000 I started with provided a great early learning experience I soon learned that I wanted the control that only an SLR camera would provide. I think I've learned the difference between a snapshot and something that might be described as 'art' but if you see something here that seems more like a snapshot it's probably something that I've saved and treasure for a reason beyond artistic merit."
Early in 2001 Quentin began to submit photographs to several "on-line" photo contests. As of this writing he has 73 Photo of the Day winners at Digitalphotocontest.com along with several Best of Category monthly winners. He has had more than 100 additional winning photographs at Shutterbugs.biz, Digitalimagecafe.com, SmartEagle.biz and Kodak.com. Quentin has begun to develop a client base in his local community; he has completed several freelance assignments for a local marketing company; his photographs appear in the City of Lafayette web pages, the Lafayette Police web pages and have also appeared in web pages and brochures for local businesses. Quentin became a photographer for OnRequestImages.com in March 2003 and 7 of his images have been licensed by Microsoft, Florida Power and Light and other companies and have appeared in product brochures and advertising. This year Quentin had two images selected for inclusion in the America 24/7 Indiana book.
Many of Quentin's images are available for sale as prints and the photographer can accept limited travel assignments in the Midwest. He has booked his first weddings for 2005 and has accepted requests for "Senior" pictures in the local area.
Retirement looms around the corner and with it the opportunity for more frequent travel. Of that time, Quentin says, "I hope I can then document another beautiful part of the world I have discovered during the past few years; the deserts of the American Southwest."
As all photographers know: Life, like the camera lens offers the best view when we look forward.
Brian W. Wellman Assignment Editor On Request Images Seattle, Washington
