Photographer's Lens Brings New Experiences

Benjamin Toombs' lens has captured tall ships, gun battles and roller derby girls.

The Steilacoom High and University of Washington-Tacoma grad who now lives on the edge of University Place is 24, yet he has photographed stuff that some people experience only through televisions, the Internet or their imagination.

"Through my lens, I've seen some really cool stuff," he says recently while sipping a drip coffee with a splash of cream and honey at Forza Coffee Company. "Some of the stuff I would have never gotten to do."

Toombs operates his own website, www.misostudios.com, where you will see his work. Some of it's commercial. Some of it is artistic.

Pictures that immediately capture the eye include the aforementioned Dockyard Derby Dames, military training exercises at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and his award-winning picture of the famed Lady Washington merchant ship during the Tall Ships festival almost five years ago.

But Toombs' interest in photography is less than a decade old. Some of his friends who are car buffs encouraged him to shoot their vehicles. It piqued his interest, so he started taking classes at Pierce College. Working with a black and white film camera, he excelled in class, and one of his shots – a nighttime photo of the Port of Tacoma — was on permanent display at the college.

From there, Toombs recognized his talents and his interest in photography only grew. As a member of the Sea Scouts program, he traveled to Italy to shoot the "Verite," a ship that was competing in the Atlantic Challenge international race. He says he "embedded" with the roller derby team as a UWT student.

Today, Toombs – who doubles as a security guard — has built a reputation for being one of the South Sound's premiere photographers. He works with a portable studio and is building a diverse clientele.

All this for a local guy who started snapping photos for fun.

"Has it changed my worldview?" he answers when asked about photography, "I don't think it's my worldview so much as it expanded it."