Tom M Johnson is a fairly recent west coast transplant to the city of Pittsburgh. A native of East Los Angeles, Tom has been a compelling editorial and advertising photographer for decades and has had his work featured both nationally and internationally. We talk about his earlier paths as a ballet dancer and model – both of which provided much needed empathy in his work on this side of the lens. Tom discusses his perspectives on favorite cameras, the beauty of imperfections, why quiet surprises resonate most and how most of his work is a form of portraiture. And while he is drawn to the rich Pittsburgh textures on display in our myriad neighborhoods he also articulates why the beaches of his youth don't suck. It's an engaging dialogue with a man who daily absorbs the world around him with an eclectic and discerning eye.