Thom Gourley

I mostly draw my inspiration from fine art painters of all styles: Impressionism, Dada, Surrealism, and Abstract expressionism. My wife and I collect folk art from a variety of cultures.

One in particular stands out in my mind. With every frame I shoot I hear the voice of Jay Maisel saying: "You are responsible for every square millimeter of the frame."<br /><br />This advice has helped me establish an economy of sorts in the visual content of my images. If something isn't contributing to the image, it shouldn't be in the frame.

I left a high-paying job in information technology to become a professional photographer, mostly because I was miserable for not being able to spend time with my true passions in life - photography and art. And now, this is the only life for me. If for some reason I can no longer be a photographer, I will move to a Buddhist monastery and become a recluse.