Robert "Bob" Blome
Biography

Although I take a different approach to photography, my standard for excellence has always been the National Geographic magazine. Since I was a young man, that magazine has inspired my interest in travel and photography. I am a self-taught photographer. I have learned techniques by observing the work of other artists, and experimenting with their approaches and my vision of an image. I particularly like the Impressionist’ painters as they are known for framing their scenes; the eye is led through their paintings and many times the main subject is in a corner of the painting rather than being centered. Often times their paintings project the use of low, high or no horizon at all. In short, I am not above incorporating portions of what I see in the work of other artists into my photography.

I was born in St. Louis, Missouri but was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana as my family moved there when I was seven years old. I graduated from Tulane University in Chemical Engineering and worked for a local company in New Orleans before going into the Army. Following completion of my military service, I joined the Humble Oil and Refining Company in Baytown, Texas. Humble later became Exxon, which in yet another change became ExxonMobil.

I had a 40-year career with ExxonMobil. During that time, I held 15 different positions in Refining, Marketing, Purchasing, and Corporate. These positions were located in 6 different cities in the United States. I was blessed that my wife and three sons went along with all the moves and changes with only a minimum of inconvenience. Life as an oil company employee must not have been too hard on the family since all three sons are now employed by petroleum companies.

Living in different parts of the country helped to reinforce my desire to continue traveling. While my interest in photography is long standing, it really emerged twelve years ago after retirement from ExxonMobil. Since my retirement I have been actively involved with my photography. I have had the opportunity to exhibit in the following shows:

· The Resh Gallery of Northwoods Presbyterian Church 2006, 2007 · The Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Art February 2008 · The Barbara Bush Library September 2010

I have sold some of my photographs, been asked to donate some to special causes and have spoken before various groups about my photography and travels.

Most of my photographs are taken during the travels that my wife and I have been privileged to experience. I consider myself a world-traveler having traveled in every state in North America, all the Provinces of Canada as well as all the main points of interest in Mexico. Overseas, we have traveled in most of Europe; New Zealand and Australia; Southeast Asia including China, Tibet, Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. A little closer to home we have visited in Cuba, Columbia, Panama and Costa Rica. Finally, we do particularly enjoy a beach vacation such as the good times we have had in Bermuda, The Bahamas, The American and British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. Lucas, The Grenadines, Granada and Aruba.

All this travel has provided wonderful opportunities for photographing exciting and artistic pictures. I do photograph a lot of landscapes and human-interest pictures during my travels.

However, I particularly like photographing images with reflections, and images that are isolated from the much larger scene. Examples of this would be showing an architectural detail of an old house; details of the surface of tree trunks; showing the sculpture’s detail of the hands and flag shaft of the Marine Memorial; or a telescopic view of The Thinker showing the patina of the sculpture and all the triangular spaces in the work. This as well as the reflections I photograph is designed to cause the viewer to pause and consider what is being focused upon. I am also partial to scenes with a lot of bold color and geometric patterns.

I hope that you will enjoy the examples of my fine art photography that are exhibited here on Greens Gallery of Original Art.