My name is Tom Grubbe (pronounced groobie) and I live in Redlands California. I have been a musician from the age of nine (a lead guitarist in many rock and roll bands) but never really thought about photography as something I might like. I moved to San Jose CA from Chicago IL got a software engineering education in order to get a "real job". Having given up music for a career in software development I was making steady money but was missing something from the creative side.

I started photography in December of 1997 after buying a Canon EOS Elan II film camera, some cheap Sigma lenses, a Gitzo tripod and a bunch more accessories. Like many people I started out using print film but quickly moved to transparency (slide) film to help to learn exposure and to have more control over my photography. I had also bought the Canon 1V for 35mm stuff and a (now obsolete) Canon 10D digital.

However my main focus has been on medium format photography so I've acquired the awesome Pentax 67II (and lost it in the ocean...then bought a new one) which had become my primary camera for landscape/seascape shooting since 2000. As of April 2009 I retired my film cameras for a Canon 5D Mark II as my primary setup.

Now that I've found Flickr I am overwhelmed by the volume of exceptional images here. I used to think I was good. Now I realize I have so much to learn! This place forces you to always do your best work and stay sharp. There's a huge amount of talent here and I'm inspired everyday!

Please stop by my website(s):

www.tomgrubbe.com

tomgrubbe.zenfolio.com/

My facebook fanpage

My Getty stock images

All Images Copyright © Tom Grubbe, All Rights Reserved. Please do not use any of my work for any purpose without my permission.