The Villages - January 2020 - 25

"I had never photographed the Everglades," Ruggles
said. "When I got in there, I was walking in with fresh
eyes, and that is my favorite thing to do. The opportunity
to walk into a place the very first time just thrills me
beyond belief."
Ruggles is a former U.S. Army paratrooper
and a former treasure diver. He has provided photos
for the U.S. State Department and former Secretary
of State Colin Powell, and he was the EMINENT
photographer for the U.S. National Parks Service
from 2007 to 2011. His accomplished resume has given
him the opportunity to do things many people only
dream of.
Upon leaving the military, Ruggles wanted to find
another way to continue serving his country.
"For me, everything in life comes back to service,"
Ruggles said. "I just feel a calling to serve. I was supposed
to be a soldier for life - the only thing I ever wanted to
do was serve in the military."

A girlfriend taught him the basics of photography, and
upon developing his first photo, he was hooked.
"I'm in her house and I'm developing the first picture
that I've ever developed on an enlarger," Ruggles said. "The
picture comes out from a blank piece of paper and it's magic
the first time you see it. You put it in the chemicals and the
picture appears and I'm thinking, 'This is the same kind of
magic I used to feel when I would jump out of airplanes.'"
Shortly after, Ruggles discovered Ansel Adams' black
and white photos of the American wilderness, inspiring
him to continue serving his country through photography
at national parks.
"The more I learned about (Ansel Adams), the more
I realized it wasn't the photography I was drawn to, it
was the service," Ruggles said. "He used his photography
to serve. I'm a banged-up old soldier and I can't go stop
bad guys anymore, but I can maybe protect the national
parks. I can go out and take pictures and be an advocate
and be a voice."

Frank Ruggles talks about
his photographs at the
grand opening of
Everglades Recreation
Center in November.

THE MORE I LEARNED ABOUT (ANSEL ADAMS), THE MORE I REALIZED IT
WASN'T THE PHOTOGRAPHY I WAS DRAWN TO, IT WAS THE SERVICE.
HE USED HIS PHOTOGRAPHY TO SERVE ... I CAN GO OUT AND TAKE PICTURES
AND BE AN ADVOCATE AND BE A VOICE.
- Frank Ruggles
MAGAZINE

25
The Villages - January 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Villages - January 2020
