Bio

Tommy Whitcomb is an Oregon-based photographer who specializes in editorial and commercial photography. Tommy played a variety of sports growing up but his true passion was — and always will be — racing motorcycles. With a great deal of practice and dedication, Tommy became one of the top off-road motorcycle racers in the Northwest as a teenager, but his career path would take a detour.

After graduating from high school Tommy was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, which is essentially an enlarged heart. The diagnosis prevented him from continuing his active lifestyle, so to fill his free time he began taking photographs at sporting events. At first it was just a hobby, but after taking a few classes Tommy found a passion for photography and quickly applied the same dedication to that craft as he had earlier in life to motorcycle racing.

Three years after diving headlong into the world of photography, Tommy again faced a detour when doctors told him that he needed a heart transplant. Four weeks later Tommy had a new heart and eight weeks after that he was back on his motorcycle. He won his first local pro race just 13 months after the transplant and is now back to living the active lifestyle he once enjoyed. With a fresh perspective and a new lease on life, Tommy Whitcomb is looking forward to becoming the best photographer — and motorcycle racer — he can be.

PROFILE

EDUCATION

Portland Community College 2004 – 2006

• Photography / Multimedia

EXPERIENCE Forest Grove News-Times 2004 – 2007

• Served as the primary sports photographer for a weekly community newspaper, covering a variety of high school and college events.

Event Photography 2005 – Present

• Taking photos of each athlete in three or more locations.

• Printing the photos and selling the photos on location.

Freelance Photographer 2004 – Present

• Clients I have worked for include Racer

X, American Motorcyclist, Cycle News, Fastway, Motocross Action, The Oregonian, Portland Tribune, Sobe, Teva Mountain Games and a number of smaller newspapers.

• Provided photos for a brochure and web site for Single Track, a company that makes specialty trail equipment machines SingleTrackTools.com

• Provided photos of the Pacific Legends Golf Classic to KISS guitarist Tommy Thayer for his web site

Miscellaneous

• Events I have covered on assignment include NCAA Division I football, numerous national motorcycle events, U.S Women’s Amateur Championship, Dew Action Sports Tour, Teva Mountain Games and Red Bull Flugtag.

SKILLS

• Adobe Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Flash and Adobe Illustrator

AWARDS

• Racer X photo contest — 1st place

• Excellence in Journalism — 1st place for Photo Essay

• Excellence in Journalism — 1st place for Sports Photo

• Excellence in Journalism — 3rd place for Sports Photo

• Excellence in Journalism — 2nd place for Sports Photo 2008