Wonders of the High Country:

A Photographer's Paradise

Folks often ask how long I've been a photographer. Truthfully, I've always had a camera in hand in some form or another.  I fondly recall the days of eagerly collecting envelopes of freshly developed photos from Eckerd's, always hoping for at least one perfect shot.

I have always lived in North Carolina, raised in the Raleigh/Cary area, I spent 30 years in Charlotte before moving to Fleetwood in fall 2019. The following spring, a memorable moment came when a doe left her fawn (pictured right) just outside my fence for my dog and me to look over, I couldn’t stop watching it from my office window. I promptly bought a Nikon (Costco bundle) with a great zoom and started shooting. I then started refining my skills with some online classes.

In June 2023, I retired from the corporate world and shortly thereafter joined the board of the Florence Thomas Art School. It was here, surrounded by Ashe County’s vibrant arts community and supported by fellow board members, instructors, and friends, that I realized I could possibly sell my photography. While I'm uncertain about the financial returns, my love for photography makes it all worthwhile.

I hope my pictures bring a little slice of mountain magic into your life.

Warm regards,

Laurel Rumph