Ellington

Thomas Beck, 41, says he's a late bloomer. Growing up, he never had an interest in art, and at the University of Mississippi he majored in English and history. Over the years, he worked in retail, film, media consulting and even tried writing, but could not find the passion to continue in those fields.

Things changed when he was 35. He bought a camera and traveled to New Orleans. "I just started shooting anything that grabbed my eye," he says. When he looked at his pictures, he realized talents unknown to him and found a passion for photography.

Six months later he shot his first magazine piece for Y'all Magazine, and his commercial and editorial company, Beck Photographic, was born. Although Beck went professional only five years ago, he has worked with numerous clients such as the Mississippi Chorus, Portico Magazine and the Boston Globe.

Much of Beck's success comes from how he approaches his work. "I look at subjects from the client's point of view, I translate what is in their head to my head, and visually represent what they're thinking," he says.

Though Beck is a native of South Carolina and grew up in Arkansas, he has made Jackson his home: "I like Jackson; the people that are here are great people. I like to see how Jackson is changing, how it's improving; in some ways I am part of that change. Jackson has a tremendous art scene. … I don't know if people know how much is out there, or maybe they just don't pay attention."

For more information visit Thomas Beck's Web site, beckphotographic.net.