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Winter
2002/2003 Issue 6
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President's
Letter
Editor's
Letter
Feature
Article
Member
Profile
New
Member
Profile
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Webletter
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Member
Profile:
Joe Robbins
All
photos © Joe Robbins
 Photography
became a part of who I am when I was in the Army, stuck in a remote
part of Turkey on the Black Sea. With very little to keep me busy
off duty, I walked around and took in the sites, becoming envious
of guys with their nice shiny Nikons and Canons while I made do with
a Kodak Instamatic. I hadn't caught the photo "bug" until then; it
never even crossed my mind to pursue a career as a photographer. But
there I was, with beautiful sites all around me, and plenty of spare
time on my hands. And I was starting to get the photo itch.
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 I
got my SLR, and just like with many of you reading this, the need to add-on
more and more equipment followed. My travels experiences in the Army fueled
my photographic interest. Along the way I heard about Brooks Institute
and thoughts of a career steered me toward an education. I applied and
became a Brookie. |
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 My
first job out of school was with a commercial studio in Kansas City.
They needed warm bodies in the studio to create a gift catalog on on
which they were desperately behind -- a good learning experience, but
a short one. They focused so much on the catalog, not much work came
in the door as we wrapped up, so I was let go.
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 From
there I went to a commercial studio in Honolulu. That lasted a year
and once again the shooters were let go as the economy began to bottom
out -- so back to the mainland, more job hunting. I looked for work
in my hometown San Diego first, then the LA area and with not much available,
moved on to other locations. In March of 1975 I became a Texan. Who
would've thought this southern California boy could evolve. In Houston,
I worked on staff for three commercial studios and in 1984, with the
local economy in anything but the best of shape, I held my breath, took
the plunge and created Joe Robbins Photography. I'll be moving into
my third studio space at the start of 2003.
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 In
March of '83 I also started teaching in the Photography program at the
Art Institute of Houston. Unfortunately AIH ended the photo program
but I am still part of the faculty as a Photoshop instructor. Teaching
at the Art Institute has been a positive experience for me -- I've learned
about myself, matured as a person and as a photographer. I'm proud of
being a part of the AI family for almost twenty years now.
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 I
joined the ASMP Houston chapter at its beginnings in 1979. As a board
member for ten years and President, I worked to make our chapter prosper.
Many great people have succeeded me and today we have a local chapter
of which we can all be proud.
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 Well
here it is, almost 2003 and I'm still here, still a Texan and responsible
for producing two of the most outstanding Texans the state will ever
know, if I do say so myself: my two daughters, both attending college.
I'm excited about my new studio space and I continue with a positive
outlook on the digital evolution we're all experiencing. Having worked
digitally for many years, thirteen months ago I went fully digital with
a Nikon D1x. Though there has been lots to learn, and forever will,
digital is great. I am happy to be part of this technological leap.
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