Thomas Oetzell's undergraduate work in art and film at Humboldt State University gained him admission to the University of Southern California. While completing the Master of Fine Arts program in cinema production, he worked concurrently as a lighting technician in the motion picture and television industry. Mr. Oetzell completed the Camera Assistant Training Program, sponsored by the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers, and International Photographers Guild. He has worked with Academy Award winning cinematographers on numerous feature films, photographed award winning short films, and lit still photographic sessions and documentary sequences for clients including JBL Speakers, Mission Foods, and the BBC. Documentary assignments have ranged from filming Peregrine falcons for National Geographic, to lighting interviews of Michael Eisner and Ronald Reagan. His clients include Boise Philharmonic and Ballet Idaho. His interest in photography was born out of a desire to capture the dazzling displays of natural light he witnessed on multi-day excursions into the Sierra. He enjoys photographing people in landscapes. A hiker, climber and kayaker, he is a participant when it comes to the outdoors. His other passion is music.