Tom Epperson

Photographer Jaime Rapi, Jr. sits down with his long-time mentor and friend for a conversation on career beginnings, the exacting art of depicting space, and what it takes to succeed in the business of architectural photography

- Jaime Rapi

It is difficult to separate Manila-based photographer Tom Epperson from his distinguished photography career. There was a time though when his area of expertise actually laid in the realm of moving images. Epperson spent 14 fruitful years in the animation industry starting as a cameraman at Hanna Barbera. All that came to a head when Epperson chanced upon an article on the famed French-born photojournalist and Vietnam War photographer Catherine Leroy which affected him so much, it effectively triggered the start of his professional photography career. His studio, whose commissions span portraiture, food, travel, and architecture has now become synonymous with high-caliber photography locally and internationally.

The clamor for his services eventually led him to enlist the assistance of photographer Jaime Rapi, Jr., who served as his assistant for a period of almost seven years. This working relationship eventually led into a mentor-protégé bond between the old guard and new blood. Epperson has come to rely on the assistance and growing artistic voice of his charge. In this interview, we bring the two together to discuss a subject that they both hold with great fascination: architectural photography.

Let’s talk first about how you fell in love with capturing images. What got you into photography?