Photography is part of Bob Wilson's life - a part so deeply ingrained that he overcame incredible adversity to continue doing what he loves.
Wilson is the proprietor of Wilson's Studio & Camera Shop, located at 38 N. Court St. in Athens and 85 W. Columbus St. in Nelsonville. His father started Wilson's Studio in 1946, and they have been serving the Nelsonville area since then. The Athens store opened in 1980.
Wilson has been taking pictures since the mid-1960s. He bought his first camera with money he received from returning a watch that he found on the ground.
With the reward
I bought my first camera he said. It was a Kodak World's Fair camera from 1964
'65 or '66.
He continued taking pictures, learning more about the photography process from his father in the shop. He went to work for the Associated Press and the Logan Daily News, and he was chief photographer at The Athens Messenger during the 1970s.
He started helping his father with the store in the early 1980s and took over the management in 1990 when Bob Wilson Sr. retired.
Wilson faced a major challenge in 1997 when he had surgery to remove a brain tumor. The surgery left him unable to walk, and he lost the use of his right arm, a huge obstacle in his work because he would have to learn to use his left hand for many tasks.
I've come a long way
to learn how to walk again
he said.
His two children, Charlie and Ali, were instrumental in his recovery from the surgery. They both have helped a lot
Wilson said.
Wilson takes pictures for many community events, including the annual Parade of the Hills, a family festival and fixture of Nelsonville since 1950, which he has said is his favorite event to photograph. He has held every position on the event's staff, including chairman of the board and president.
Wilson also takes the team pictures, club pictures and yearbook portraits for Nelsonville-York city schools. He shoots many senior pictures as well. Being a local, independent photographer gives his clients a better experience, Wilson said.
It gives them someone they can see face to face
not just at a distance
he said. His shop does more than just sell cameras, too.
We offer repair services for all makes and models
Wilson said. They develop film as well and offer printing from both silver highlight film and digital pictures.
We try to offer everything all in one package
he said.
Wilson is excited about the digital revolution in photography but believes that film-loading cameras will be the standard until prices fall.
Three years ago
