It's been a long road of travel for photographer Ellis St. Rose. But after so many years, he's achieved his dream of living and working in Hawaii.

The Danville, Ill., native was always around photography. Growing up, he helped retouch photos for his uncle, a portrait photographer. Later, he joined the Navy and shot photographs for it.

After leaving the Navy, St. Rose found himself in California, where chance led him to Universal studios and a shot at working in Hollywood.

“;On the strength of my still photography, they gave me a job as an assistant cameraman at Universal,”; says St. Rose.

He has a long string of film and television credits, including “;Adam-12,”; “;McMillan & Wife”; and “;The Karate Kid.”; He also traveled the world filming ABC's “;Wide World of Sports.”;

But Hawaii was always on St. Rose's mind. He recalled listening to recordings of Hilo Hattie and was taken by the sounds he heard.

“;Back in the '70s, I took a trip over here and loved it,”; he says. “;I fell in love with Hawaii. I think it's great!”;

He now lives here full time and continues with his still photography. “;I shoot everything from panoramas to nature and scenery. But I've tried to widen my horizons and shoot other things,”; he says.

St. Rose is a digital man now, his workhorse camera being a Sony R1 with a 28-to-135-mm zoom. He's firm in his belief that a photographer, not the camera, makes the pictures, and chuckles when he thinks about how many photographers are so adamant on brand.

“;So many pros think you gotta have a Nikon or a Canon to be in the ballgame. I don't think so,”; he says.