Home: Long Beach, Calif., following what he calls a “three-year stint of homelessness.”
Interests: When he’s not shooting, Loomis says he also enjoys snowboarding, camping, scuba diving, rock climbing, mountain biking and “the company of wonderdog Tikka.”
Awards: Loomis’ accolades are too numerous to count, but some recent awards include the Newspaper Photographer of the Year, Award of Excellence, Pictures of the Year International (2008); Los Angeles Press Club Photojournalist of the Year (2008 and 2004); 1st Place, News Audio Slideshow, “A life-changing vote,” Best of Photojournalism (2008); Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting (2007); Reader’s Prize, Days Japan International Photojournalism Awards (2007); and the Mark Twain Award for Excellence in News Photography (2007).
Preferred Equipment: Canon DSLRs (1D Mark III) and Canon lenses (EF 28mm, f/1.8); Sony HVE-VU1 HDV camcorder; Edirol R-09 MP3/WAVE digital audio recorder.
Pet Peeve: Sometimes people talk about photography instead of doing it. “Don’t talk about it, just do it,” Loomis says. “Go out and do it.”
Main Influences: Dave LaBelle, photo instructor at Western Kentucky University; Michael Williamson of The Washington Post; Gail Fisher, former photo editor at The Los Angeles Times, now at National Geographic; and Alex Webb. Also Sebastião Salgado: “I walked through an exhibit of his when I was in college and I cried before I got to the end,” Loomis says.
Advice to aspiring photojournalists: “Don’t forget the basics,” he says. “Learn the craft of photography. Don’t settle for mediocrity. Work harder than everybody else.”
Website: loomisphotography.com
