Meet Thomas Gartner of TAG3Photography

Today we’d like to introduce you to Thomas Gartner.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Thomas. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born in Vicenza, Italy. I was the only child of an American military family and was raised in the United States in a small town in Southeast Georgia. I started my journey into photography in 2007 while serving in the United States Army. I purchased my first digital camera right before deploying to Iraq. While there, I developed a passion for taking photos. Photography became instrumental in helping me deal with the stresses of war. Upon returning to the States, I realized that photography is a positive outlet, allowed me to channel my negative thoughts and emotions into something creative and meaningful. Photography has now become the driving force of my life, second only to my children. With the support of a handful of good people and family, I have made photography my profession, am intent on helping fellow veterans use the field as a means of personal growth and healing. My children and my camera keep me going in a positive direction daily. I truly hope you enjoy my work. All my heart and energy go into my photography, and then some.

Has it been a smooth road?
My biggest obstacle for many years was myself! After being Diagnosed with PTSD and Anxiety in 2010, I struggled with letting go of traumatic events and I harbored so much guilt after returning from the war. It wasn’t until I realized that not everything was my fault and within my ability to control. It was as if a fog had lifted in my head! Everything came into Focus! I knew that my children needed me to be for them. That moment is when I knew that I wanted to inspire my children and hopefully other service members! So every time I hear my daughter play “Let it Go”, it serves as a reminder of how important it is to take care of yourself.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
TAG3Photography gets its name from my whole name. Thomas A. Gartner III is my given name and inspired me to use TAG3Photography. I am best known for my Day or Night Landscape photography, Black and White Surfing Photography and Travel Photography. I am most proud of the fact that anybody of all ages can look at my work. My photography is even safe for adults to view at work. If I cannot show my kids than I will not take the photograph. I set myself apart from others by trying to be as original as possible. I do not follow or try to copy other Artists. I always try to Lead the Way!

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Yes, I do, however, I think San Diego is inundated with photographers. Also, with all the newer technologies such as Cell Phones, iPads and all the Photography Apps in the App Store allows anyone the ability to be an Artist in some way. Also, we are a High Volume Tourist City, so that is a lot of Cameras in San Diego. So it is important that you find a way to be artistic and different from everyone. I would definitely recommend that a beginner start here in San Diego. San Diego has so much untapped potential for photography. This is where it becomes crucial that you find your niche. The citizens of San Diego love our photographers! I get some of the greatest comments and support from people I have never met. I am very proud of this! Comments from friends and family are generally expected however to get support from an elderly lady who is recovering from surgery and tells you “your photograph made her day” Means the world to me!

However, our local Government and construction companies should consult a “Professional Photographer” before anything gets built in San Diego in my opinion. Also, I think major local businesses should do more to help promote local Artists. I notice a lot of small businesses doing their part and that is commendable and always appreciated. Let us get the Bigger Companies and local business chains on board as well. This is the reason behind me creating a Facebook page titled San Diego Photographers Gallery. https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoPhotographersGallery/

I noticed a few years back that there was no real Social Media Outlet to help Photographic Artists to present their works to San Diego for sale. So I created SDPG and with the help of two good friends, Heidi Short and Joseph Gaines. We now have over 15, 000 followers and growing. If you can’t wait for the Art Walks you can now go on San Diego Photographers Gallery and follow a lot of local Photographers works. The best part is every photograph posted by a confirmed local artist is for sale. Another great part of the page is the Photographs can be taken anywhere in the world. So it is not just local photographs. Photographic Artists tend to travel and I do not want to restrict their vision for their art.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://tag3photography.com
• Email: tag3sd@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tag_3_photography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tag3photography/
• Other: https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/thomas-gartner.html

Image Credit:
Gentry Gard
TAG3Photography

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