A Meeting of Talents Midst Everyday Life

James Burns is one of the photographic talents that makes up Robert Gebbie Photography. Jim has been a driving force, a cheerleader, a positive attitude and influence in our small company. Here, he shares the story of how he came to work with us.


Artistic things have been an interest of mine ever since I can remember. Even as a small child, I would draw cartoon characters to see how close I could make them look like the original. I remember one time I drew one of those “Tippy the Turtle” draw-me cartoons you see in the back of comic books and things. I must have been about 12, I think. I sent it off, happy I had done a great job. I received a rejection letter, telling me I should not trace the image. I was shocked! I would never trace an image! I drew it by hand! Well, I neglected to read the instructions completely, I was to make it bigger than the one provided. So off I went to redraw this turtle, determined to do a good job. The next letter I received was a congratulations letter, telling me I had won the prize. But I could not accept it, as it was for an art school in a different state. Class was paid for, but travel and housing was not. But that was not important, I had drawn the turtle, and it was good!

As I grew to an adult, my artistic talents showed themselves in the form of metal sculptures, oil paintings, and recreating WW1 and WW2 artifacts. But there was still more, still a vision, still something else I wanted to share. I was working a regular job and one day I was introduced to a new co-worker, Robert. It was an ordinary experience, showing him the workflow and casual chat, getting to know each other. Along the way a friendship emerged from this working relationship. Our conversations got deeper, experiences shared.

After a few years, I developed an interest in photography. Although he had put his camera down for whatever reasons life had given him, I knew Robert’s 25 years of being a photographer would be a good resource for asking questions. I started with some inexpensive digital cameras and started to play around with taking pictures. Through the progression of picture taking, and asking Robert questions about camera settings, I evolved from an amateur picture taker into a photographer.


Now I am able to take stunning images that make the viewer say “Wow”. My “Flowers at Night” series is a good example. I look at flowers in a whole new light, so to speak. Using lighting, I’m able to create a drama, an intensity in the image. The flowers take on an emotion all their own.

There is also the instant gratification we have with current technology. I can literally take a picture now, and within a few minutes have it uploaded and for sale on the internet. This is the power of the new wave of instant media gratification. This also keeps me motivated to share more and more of the beauty I find around me.

So with my attention to detail, artistic eye, and just the enthusiasm of good photography combined with Robert’s similar abilities and determinations, we have teamed up to show others like us what your dreams and inspirations can accomplish if you set your mind to it.

I enjoy working with, and creating works of art with Robert and his wife, Lori. Together I think we may actually have a good chance at making it in this overexposed media based world.

A Brief Introduction

Hello and Welcome! I guess an introduction is in order. My name is Robert Gebbie, and I am the owner of Robert Gebbie Photography. I am Photographer, Artist, Illustrator, Designer, and all-around Creative. A handyman of the arts, one could say, learning most of the time from necessity, as much as from interest. It has been twenty-five years since I took my first studio portraits professionally under the instructing eye of Scott Weston, my teacher, mentor, friend, and in my opinion, master photographer.

For most of my life, the field of Art has held a significant draw. Photography and Illustration were always focal points, but I never stopped growing, learning a little from curiosity (or need) along the way. If it catches my interest, it’s fair game. From Fantasy illustrations to carving Briar Wood Tobacco Pipes, web design to Photography, if it was Artistic, I had my hand in it. While never claiming to be the best at what I do, I have met with moderate success, and I invite you to visit my gallery to make your own decision.

Since this is my introduction to the world of blogging, I hope you will have a look around, enjoy what you see, and come back often. I will often refer to my team. My team consists of my wife and partner, Lori, my best friend and 2nd Photographer, Jim, and a small handful of others that help with sales and other office functions. In future postings, I plan on telling a few stories, give a little advice, and generally discuss the things that I find interest in. Hopefully, you will learn a little, laugh a little, and maybe even think a little. So warm up the coffee, put on your big fuzzy slippers, relax and enjoy what my team and I have to offer.

I Creator; The great expression

(maybe the meaning to life)

The world is filled with pictures and images, visual media as advertisements, art and dialog saturate every aspect of our lives. From expressing an emotion to reminding us to turn off the lights when we leave the room, photographs, designs, graphics and text can be found on almost everything in our lives. It is the way we as humans communicate, it is the depth, breath and fuel of our souls. It is the one thing that has separated the human race from all other forms of life on this planet, the ability to express, communicate, record and create visually.

I am an artist; photographer and now writer because it is my need beyond any other driving force in my life to express, create and record. It is in all of us, in every form of expression from your first scribble to your greatest achievement and at times our worst failures. The ability to capture, write, teach and learn has enabled humans to rise above a level of instinctual survival.

We are the only creatures I know who spend their entire lives documenting and recording themselves, in millions of forms and in millions of ways we say I am, was and have been, I must leave my mark, I creator, see what I have done. So whatever it is that you do, take a photograph, draw a picture, write a line, sculpt, build, design, teach or communicate. Create, invent and imagine because that is what it means to be human and for all of us I might even speculate that this is the true meaning of life, and the answer to everything we are, to leave our mark, to be remembered.


Robert Gebbie has been a photographer for over 25 years and is currently located in the Vancouver, Washington area. You can see his creations at http://www.rgebbiephotography.com