Meet Robert Laubacher | Landscape Photographer

I always have been a calculated risk taker. For thirty years I was a firefighter in the heart of New York City. It was a job I loved. While I saved people, I also saw many others succumb to flames and smoke. Many of my fellow firefighters died in the line of duty; one was a good friend who died in the Macy’s 34th Street fire and others died in the destruction of the World Trade Center on 9/11. Had I not retired at the end of 1999 I would have been there at the Towers; they were in my assigned district as a Fire Marshal.

Aside from working a risky profession, my pleasurable activities were marathon running, scuba diving on wrecks, ocean kayaking, camping, and skiing. All of those activities have inherent risks. Photography is my first docile avocation. Then again, I just read yesterday that a man died in Death Valley because he ran out of gas in 123 degree heat. I have taken some great shots in Death Valley. When you are a photographer you have to prepare for the light, gas and water.

Risk taking has added joy to my life. I have travelled to fabulous destinations. I learned to appreciate solitude in nature and made that my refuge. Taking risks has allowed me to help other people survive and be celebrated for my risk-taking in the line of duty. When you experience something like that, the bumps in the road of life are less significant, there’s less drama and more inner resources to help you deal with critical moments. All I have done in my life has strengthened and reinforced my coping skills and my inner peace.

I started photographing New York City when I was in my late twenties and didn’t go back to photography until my retirement. I am a self-educated photographer. Whatever I need to learn can be found in some book or through resources located online. I am an avid reader and I listen to videos made by experts to hone my skills. I do this daily, like a job, and I apply what I learned to my raw files to cement the editing concept. I work on editing every day. It is detail laden work and the computer knowledge takes dedication to task to learn and time to absorb. The raw files are my canvas. I punch them up with a vision I have and I achieve that vision through acquired technical expertise. I have worked hard to build my skills.

I’ve been married for 46 years, so Phyllis probably has something to do with it. My mother is now 94 years old and she raised me with love. We had a very large extended family since Mom was one of ten children.  I was well-fed and emotionally supported by a huge and happy Italian-American clan. I had a really good start.