Tom Jacobs

Like many people who turn a lay-off into an opportunity, Tom found his passion for photography after receiving his pink slip from a Silicon Valley software company in 2002. In the 20+ years prior, taking photos with his Pentax SLR was a favorite hobby. But with a full-time job no longer side-tracking him, he began photographing seriously. Eventually, he turned to digital equipment and has never looked back.

His technical background made the transition to the digital darkroom an obvious next step as he began to master Photoshop and print his own photos. Today, Tom produces his own work as well as doing fine art printing for other photographers and artists. He has taught Photoshop classes and tutored aspiring photographers. His studio near the beach in Santa Cruz County serves multiple duties as a gallery for his fine art photography, a work space for printing his and other artist's work, a place for tutoring students, and a portrait studio for his newest endeavor.

"I love creating fine art photography. It allows me to connect with the world around me in a very personal way. It forces me to be in the moment. All other distractions fade away as I concentrate on finding simplicity in the beauty of a scene. Understanding lighting and composition and photographic technology are important, but they are secondary to the art of seeing. My photographs are noted by their rich colors and textures, strong composition, and intriguing subject matter. They most often include a structure with a story to tell, such as a rusty tricycle left out in the snow, an abandoned vintage truck, or worn-out shoes. They evoke thoughts of days gone by, a simpler time, a forgotten memory.

My other photographic pursuit - capturing the grace of horses and their riders - takes place in the barns, arenas and show grounds around the Northern California coast. Thanks to my wife's passion for horses, I began translating my eye for composition and capturing the moment to equine photography. Horses at liberty, posing with their human partners, executing artful dressage movements, or full-out galloping on a cross-country course have a way of revealing their spirit and grace that makes them remarkable characters for visual stories. The evolution to fine art portrait photography came naturally, as I began to create meaningful portraits of individuals, couples or families that tell their stories. Whether in my studio or in the natural environment, I focus on producing portraiture that reveals the personalities, relationships and emotions that make everyone unique."