Tom Stone (photographer) facts for kids

Tom Stone (born July 12, 1971) is an American photographer who takes pictures to help people. His photos show the lives of people who are experiencing homelessness or living in difficult situations. He is well-known for his pictures of people in California who are often overlooked by society.

Early Life and Education

Tom Stone was born on a train near Mexico City. He spent his early years traveling with his mother, Raya Ra, and father, Tony Washington. His mother wanted to give him a stable life, so they moved around a lot. For a time, they lived in Hawaii.

Later, Tom moved to different cities, including Los Angeles and Seattle. He experienced living in various ways, sometimes without a permanent home. His mother always encouraged him to do his best. She taught him at home for a while.

When he was older, Tom enrolled in the 7th grade at Highland Hall Waldorf School. He loved being creative, making paintings and other art. In high school at Harvard-Westlake School, he got interested in musicals and plays. This led him to study creative writing and film at Harvard University.

After college, Tom worked in finance for a while. But he soon realized his passion was for creative work. He started making documentary videos. While doing this, he became interested in the stories of young people living on the streets. He began taking still photographs to help him understand and share their experiences. This is how his life's work of taking powerful pictures of people began.

Art and Photography Career

Tom Stone's photographs have been shown in art galleries and events, like the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Artist's Gallery. His pictures are getting a lot of attention for people experiencing homelessness in America. His goal is to encourage viewers to help people in their own cities. He is represented by the DNJ gallery in Santa Monica, California.

Tom Stone's photos show the real lives of people who are homeless. He tries to show the true spirit of each person he photographs. His pictures make people think about what separates us from others. They also make us wonder why we sometimes ignore the challenges people face.

Stone says his work is "about increasing the pool of people who are focused on making lives better in their own cities and towns." He wants his photography to help communities support each other and understand different situations.

His work has been shown in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, and Freiburg, Germany. His photos have also been published in many places, including magazines like Rolling Stone.