Although Dentistry is my job and profession, photography continues to be a special love. Several years ago, 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. It helped that my father was a professional wedding/portrait photographer. My first cameras were Kodak point and shoot film cameras. 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 A2E camera to a professional Canon EOS-3. With the advent of affordable digital SLR’s, I bought my first digital SLR, a Canon 10D. Since that time, I have progressed up the ladder to today's camera, a Canon 5D Mark III. I continue to do some film (slides) as well as digital photography.

I participate with Betterphoto clubs and contests on a monthly basis.I have found a photographer's home with Barefoot Contessa Photo Adventures. They have taken me to photography heights I never expected to reach. I am an active participant with a great local photography "club", ExposureRoanoke.org. I do occasional art/photo shows in the local area. In past years, I have participated in the Taubman Museum of Art's Sidewalk Art Show (weekend after Memorial Day) in Roanoke, VA. I won 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. I have two photographs published in a "For Sale" photo book for Cass Railroad State Park, Cass, WV. I have a Train photograph which was published in a book of art work owned by Carilion Clinic/Hospitals. I am a member of North American Nature Photographers Associaiton (NANPA} In the past 5 years, I have been and active participant with Virginia Professional Photographers Association (VPPA) and Professional Photographers of America (PPA). I have participated on a yearly basis with Image Competition in both organizations. 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 take photography courses and workshops to develop my skills focusing on nature, landscape and wildlife photography.

John Singleton, JS Photography, Roanoke, VA