Pursuing Her Passion for Photography

With a clear passion and an inspired imagination, Ruth has been creating scenic photography in Bucks County since jumping ship from the pharmaceutical industry. Though she is not the first to make that transition, she definitely feels it has been a calling. “From Pharma to Photos” begins to describe the journey that took Ruth from being inside corporate America to being inside the lens of a camera. 

With several artists in the family, Ruth started exploring her creative side several years ago. Her mother was a charcoal artist; her great grandfather was a sculptor in Paris; an aunt was an oil painter; her cousin does watercolor; and there are also musicians in the family. Ruth always enjoyed looking at art and found herself thinking, “Wouldn’t it be cool to be a photographer?” She couldn’t quite imagine it though, partially due to the high cost of equipment and film at the time. Once digital technology became the mainstay, it became affordable to give it a try. She hasn’t looked back since.

Ruth’s work is both beautiful and elegant, and though there is no question that her pieces are photographic, people occasionally ask if they are paintings. This seems to genuinely please Ruth, as it, perhaps, offers some mystery to her technique. Ruth’s photography is a reflection of the surroundings she calls home. She has a unique ability to capture scenes, often returning to the same location multiple times to grasp color and light and translate it into the tranquil moods that collectors of her work find truly special.

A resident of Bucks County since 1986, Ruth got serious about photography in 2004. Mostly self taught, she learned by asking questions within the online photography community. People had very positive feedback to offer, commenting about her composition and style, and that was just the beginning. She continued to hone her skills and got more involved with one particular community: bytephoto.com, which she and her husband, Steve, eventually purchased and are now expanding. At 8,000 members strong, bytephoto.com is positioned as a preeminent online source for the photography community at large.

In November 2007, the coincidences were staring Ruth straight in the eye. She got laid off from work the same day that her Nikon D-300 arrived in the mail—the camera that she had been wanting for some time. To drive the point home even more, a couple of days prior to that, she saw a beautiful scene while driving, but she had to get to work and couldn’t stop. She thought, “Wouldn’t it be great if I could be a full-time photographer?” Two days later, she was laid off. “I took that as a good omen that this is what I’m supposed to be doing.”

Ruth’s customers come from art shows, Google searches, and gallery exhibits, including The Delaware River Gallery in Yardley (www.delawarerivergallery.com). She has won many awards, including awards from the Sellersville Gallery of the Arts, Lansdale Festival of the Arts, Peddler’s Village Fine Arts, and the Prallsville Mill’s Images of the Mill show, among others. Her work is being licensed in puzzles and calendars, and she has been featured in many publications over the last several years.

Ruth gives back to the community through donations of her photography to places like The Michener Art Museum Senior Artist initiative, CB Cares, and the Bucks County Designer House. Recently, she was the featured artist at TYLER TASTING at Buck County Community College, an event to raise money for upkeep of the Tyler Mansion. She was asked to photograph the mansion in all four seasons, and she then took those photographs and created one photograph for the event. The opportunity arose through the Countryside Gallery in Newtown, PA, where Ruth’s work is displayed. Owner, Barbara Wolfe—who also provides framing for the event—handles artist selection, and she chose Ruth as the first photographer to be represented.

Though her heart is in Bucks County, Ruth and Steve often take trips in their motor home, which also doubles as a lounge during weekend-long shows. She is most appreciative of Steve’s support, both in front of and behind the scenes. Ruth admits that she may not be making the same kind of living that she was in pharmaceuticals, but she’s happier following her passion and wouldn’t have it any other way. Clearly, she epitomizes what can happen with positive thinking and putting one’s thoughts “out there.” In fact, she even confessed that she would occasionally flip through the pages of Bucks County Woman magazine and think, “Wouldn’t it be great if I could be in this magazine?” Well, Ruth, be careful what you wish for; who knows what is next! 

www.reflectionsbyruth.com

Story by LisaBeth Weber