Today we’d like to introduce you to Bobby Thomas.
Hi Bobby, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I don’t know when I realized, but I hardly had any pictures of my grandpa. I thought that sucked! So, back in “the day” one of my long-time school mate was in a band, and I started to photograph them, take the film to Sam’s Club, have them developed, and out of the negatives, has some blown up. The thrill of getting those back is the same thrill I get today when I print an image! In 2007 I bought my first DSLR, one day sitting in a car dealership waiting on a customer in 2009, I decided I had enough and enroll at Amarillo College in Amarillo, Tx. Was a two-year program that took me 5 years to complete in 2014. I wanted to be a fashion photographer, but all my life I was around hot rods, I worked at a speedshop for years, and that was in my blood too! I went out to the local dragstrip and started taking pictures. In 2015 I became the photographer for Route 66 Motor Speedway. Then things took off in the motorsports photography. Started traveling to events, going to Texas Motor Speedway for Nascar and Indy Car Racing and Texas Motorplex for the NHRA Fall Nationals. I’ve been lucky to be able to photograph the 2019 Indy 500 and the 2022 Daytona 500, plus Indy Car at TMS and World Of Outlaws at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite. I also photographed High School Football for Dave Campbell’s Texas Football., In 2022 I photographed 13 High School Football games and 3 NCAA Football games with the highlight being Iowa St At TCU! During time off I photograph models and bands! I have photographed 22 models in 2022 and 13 bands! Looking forward to a banner year in 2023! You can visit my website – www.drrocksphotography.com to see what all I’m about or follow me on Instagram @drrocksphotography!
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?
Not a smooth road by any means. I literally sucked when I first started. Schooling helped, having a great eye for color and composition, but slow learning in learning strobes. I reserved the studio at school more than anyone, learning lighting. I have bought everything 3 times over to get to the point that I’m at. I have practice, taking over 750,000 images!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Action photography…motorsports and football! Proudest moments, there is nothing like race day at the Indy 500! 350,000 people, the buzz is just amazing! The Daytona 500 is just electric! First races of the season, fans are pumped, race teams are pumped, 6 races in 4 days, it’s just awesome! And in 2022 photographing Navy At SMU, #21 Cincinnati at SMU, and Iowa Se at #4 and undefeated TCU! I think what separates me is my colors. My color is deep, it’s real regardless of the conditions. There is some advantages of being around so long and honing my craft.
What does success mean to you?
I define success as being happy with what you do! There is nothing like the excitement of race day or game day! Am I the most popular photographer out there? No! I’m a starving artist trying to make it to the next race! I will do this before taking a 9-5 job! It’s a journey, it’s an obsession, and will die doing it!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.drrocksphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drrocksphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrRocksPhotography
Image Credits
Amalia Novakova
Taylor Hetrick
Amanda Kee Elite
Non-Wing Sprint
Car Series Nascar
