Patsy Roberts describes and photographs wildlife of Africa
The Harbor Sound
October 18, 2005
By Miriam Perrone
It was the late Helen Keller who once said, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.” Author and photographer Patsy Smith Roberts never read that quote, but it is as though Ms. Keller was writing about her. How many women do you know who would travel alone to Africa (a country she had never seen) to fulfill her dream of visiting the many fascinating countries there, and photographing the abundant wildlife?
If you question Roberts about her extraordinary work and her success she seems very modest. Doesn’t she see the incongruity between Alma, Georgia where she was born and raised and countries like Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, and Botswana? The labyrinth of huts, the winding hillsides, the evenings where the roar of lions can be heard from a distance away…surely this is nothing like the tobacco farm where she lived until she graduated high school. But apparently “a country girl” could appreciate wildlife, beautiful landscapes, and the spirited welcome and generosity of the African people.
Roberts was married for 16 years and living on St. Simons (where she has been vacationing since childhood) although she traveled with her husband he was not interested in seeing Africa. “As a matter of fact,” says Roberts, “He said he would never go with me.” She pauses. So after my divorce, I booked a trip to Kenya and Tanzania. I always felt that Africa was a place I would love and it was.”
She discovered that she also loved photographing the wildlife, especially in her favorite site. Botswana. Patsy Smith Roberts had never, before this, had any formal training in photography. Friends though, began urging her to share her vibrant photographs and sell them it interested customers. “I was afraid I would end up living forever with all the photographs of lions and elephants hanging on my wall,” she says laughing. “Imagine how happy I was when folks, who weren’t just kind friends, started buying my photos.”
It was Africa that Roberts met Gillian Cullinan, a South African freelance writer for Travel and Leisure. An evening with Ms. Cullinan inspired both of them to begin collaborating on the first book, “Rory, the Adventures of a Lion Cub.” The book was a success, inspired many school youngsters in Glynn County to become interested in Africa and investigate more about the lions that live in family groups.
Roberts, so encouraged by the response to “Rory”, sat down and wrote, photographed, and published her next book, “Kabelo, The Adventures of a Baby Giraffe”. Her third book is now being released. This one is titled, “Willis the Warthog.” All of Patsy Roberts’ books teach a lesson that the most important thing about anyone is the true spirit of courage, and wisdom “that you grow inside.” All the heroic animals find self-respect by realizing their greatest strength comes from having pride in themselves.
Artistic works of art like Roberts’ books are published to be shared. In her books, Roberts writes and photographs the animals she loves so that this will lead to better teaching and learning as well as fun and rich imaginative adventures for children.
Her books can be found at Bookmarks in Jacksonville, GJ Ford on St. Simons, Shravers Books in Savannah or on Amazon.com. If anyone is interested in inviting Patsy Roberts to share adventures and photographs with youngsters in school or in a social group like Boys and Girls Scouts, Sunday School ect. you can visit www.sosmags.com for more information.