Today we’d like to introduce you to Tommy Vohs

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?

My father was a hobby photographer. He had a rudimentary darkroom set up in a closet in our modest apartment in Jersey, Channel Islands. I have only one box of his black and white photos;, the only keepsake of early childhood.. Hauntingly beautiful snap shots of my brother and I capturing the moments and facial expressions of excitement and sadness. I’d like to think that I also possess that gift of being able to capture a precious, candid moment in my photos.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?

“Self doubt has killed more careers…..” When I joined an on-line photography community I was intimidated by the incredible variety of photos proffered by the members. There were many times I questioned my place there. One of the members I became acquainted with told me it was important to find a style of one’s own, and to build from there. Even in the face of doubt, surge ahead with belief and purpose and blaze a trail. I took that advice very much to heart, With time I found what inspired me and even though it was so different than what I was seeing, I remembered what she’d said and continued forward with the belief that what I had to offer deserved a space.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?

I am a locomotive engineer for Canada’s national passenger railway. I started from the ground up at CN Rail as a brakeman, then conductor then qualifying as an engineer. I was only going initially stay until I found something I liked and 37 years later I’m getting ready for retirement.
As a woman in a male-dominated industry, there were no shortage of naysayers, questioning my presence. But, I worked hard and earned the respect of my peers. I never doubted my place there because I didn’t doubt my ability to complete the work, as hard and challenging as it was. In the face of negativity, I rose above the weight of adversity and instead, focused on the positive.
Now I train engineers and feel a huge sense of responsibility to share knowledge with the youth who will carry on after my departure. With 1000’s of lives and millions of dollars of equipment in our hands, there is no room for distraction. Proper training is crucial and something I’ve always taken very seriously.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?

It is dangerous to rely on luck on the railway. Everything must be carefully planned and re-briefed. Distractions can kill. Focus is essential. There is no doubt however, that luck has come into play in certain circumstances l, bad and good. There have been people who have miraculously been only slightly injured as my train slammed into their vehicle at 95 miles a hour. Conversely, there have been several people who have lost their lives because they were either standing too close to the tracks or they thought they could get out of the way in time.
Contrarily, in photography, I aim to be less focused, less rigid in practice. I don’t like setting up shots to make them ‘perfect’. To me that is antithetical to capturing a moment. I briefly imagine what it is I’m trying to achieve without overthinking or controlling the outcome. It’s risky when you can’t control the outcome but I believe there is immense beauty in that lack of control.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: www. Instagram.com/tomtomvohs