Although Dentistry was my job and profession {now retired}, photography has always been a special love. About 20 years ago, my family and friends urged me to exhibit my skills at a local sidewalk art show. The positive comments of friends and patrons encouraged me to make my love for photography a small "hobby business".
My first curiosity with photography was in early elementary school. My father was a professional wedding/portrait photographer. He bought me my first camera, a Kodak point and shoot film camera. From time to time, I did get to use the many of my Father’s SLR cameras. My father gave me my first SLR camera, a Pentax ME-F with the first auto-focusing lens.

College, Dental School and a new family kept me busy with family and vacation pictures. I wanted to improve and hone the skills my Father had taught me. In the late nineties, I bought a new Canon A2E camera. I decided it was time to take my photography to a more serious and creative level.
While practicing as a Family Dentist, I continued to develop my photography and creative skills. I upgraded my Canon cameras over the years to higher level SLR's. With the advent of affordable digital SLR’s, I began to move away from film to the digital realm. Since that time, I have progressed up the ladder to today's camera, a Canon R5 Mirrorless camera (with the Canon 5D Mark III as a back up). I continue to do some film (slides) as well as digital photography.

I have participated with Betterphoto.com for many years. I have developed many important professional relationships over the years. In past years, I have participated in the Taubman Museum of Art's Sidewalk Art Show (weekend after Memorial Day) in Roanoke, VA. My first award image was in the 1st Land + Link Juried Photo Competition in 2010 and a third place finish in 2013 Land + Link Juried Show. In addition to the third place finish, 5 other photos were selected for their Musuem show in November 2013. One of my train images was purchased by Carilion Clinic. The image was the only photograph to be published in a book of art work owned by Carilion Clinic/Hospitals. I am a member of North American Nature Photographers Associaiton (NANPA} I am an active member in Virginia Professional Photographers Association (VPPA} as well as Professional Photographers of America (PPA). I am a certified photographer in VPPA and I am currently working on my Masters of Photography with PPA.

Ansel Adams once said, "In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration." Photography has always been an rewarding experience, as well as a way to explore the world. It also has been a way to spend quality time with my wife and sons, as we (cameras in hand) explore together. I continue to work at developing and perfecting my skills as I focus on nature, landscape and wildlife photography.

John Singleton, JS Photography, Roanoke, VA