User:Robaarvark

Robert H. (Bob) Alexander, Professional Photographer, Brandon, MS. robertalex@comcast.net

Robert began his Professional Photography career while still a U.S. Naval Aviator Carrier Pilot, with the Navy's approval, in 1951, photographing weddings and reunions on weekends.

2010 marks the beginning of his 60th year as a Professional Photographer, at age 82.

Leaving the Navy in 1954, Alexander opened a studio in his hometown of Grenada, MS. Shortly thereafter, studying under famous teacher, Tony Wichers of Topeka, KS. He made fast progress and won First Prize in the Men's Division of the MS-AL Associated Photographers competition with a Perfect Score. This record stood for some 25 years until it was only equaled.

In 1958, as MS Vice President of the organization, he joined President Harry Rumfelt, of Greenwood, MS, in co-founding the very first-in-the-world Continuing Education Seminar on Professional Photography, that featured the joint participation of the local association, the national Professional Photographers of America, and a major university, Ole Miss, the University of Mississippi.

Featured speakers were Max Munn Autrey, of 20th Century Fox glamor photography fame, Josef Schneider, renowned photographer of children, and Wesley Bowman, well-known commercial photographer, of Chicago.

Alexander's relationship with Max Munn Autrey led to Alexander's great use of the "Hollywood Style" of photography in photographing many sororities and beauty sections, plus using the wonderful, dramatic, "style", in some form or the other, almost daily.

Over the years, Alexander has specialized in portraiture, weddings, and military reunion photography. His years as a Naval Aviator, tremendously aided him in developing a style that has been proclaimed by many, as the best military reunion photography in the country. Especially by the Silver Eagles and Hurricane Hunters groups.

Being sent by the Navy to Engineering School, at Tulane University, 1946-1948, made switching from film to digital photography a "piece of cake", as he describes it. He has been in some form of digital photography since the early date of 1980. Placing photos of planes and ships and adding appropriate backgrounds to his group photos, set his reunion photography apart from almost all others across the country. Even today, you will find few that equal his professional approach.

Alexander's accomplishments are included in the History and Timeline of the Professional Photographers of America for the Ole Miss Conference, the University of Mississippi Special Collections Division of their Archives and History for the Ole Miss Conference, and the State of Mississippi Archives and History Department for his Military Reunion Group Photography.