The following article was written by Lisa Pellegrene, and was originally published on Patch.com on August 2, 2018. Thomas Slatin, photographer and writer discusses how his talents were revealed at a young age, encouraging all to follow their dreams.

Thomas W.P. Slatin, a published urban exploration photographer and writer, stated in a recent interview that his interests and talents in writing and photography were revealed by the age of eight. In this inspiring interview, he encourages others to “follow their dreams.” Continuing, “few know that my father, a scientist by profession, was passionate about photography. When I was eight, my father gifted me a basic 35 mm film camera. It had the most basic settings, and utilized 100 or 400 ISO film.” At the age of twelve, Slatin recalls receiving a Canon SLR 35 mm camera from his father, Dr. Harvey L. Slatin. The camera came with a 50 mm focus lens. According to Slatin, “it became my most prized possession.” Thomas Slatin utilized this camera to photograph and document his childhood. Also at a young age, around the age of six, Slatin recalls having an “insatiable fascination with the written word,” filling his shelves with books to build a makeshift library. Advice that he shares with his online audience is to truly stay the course to “do work you love” and to “follow your dreams.” “My parents thought perhaps I should have become a doctor or an astronomer, ” states Slatin. Possibly due to his father knowing, as well as highly regarding, Carl Sagan. Years later, Slatin described a day at school, while in class where his teacher selected his writing work to exemplify what the work of a good writer looks like. Slatin continued to state, “what I knew then and what my parents did realize is that my motivation to write and photograph images, and my passion for exploring was something I was born with, and meant to do. “

Thomas W.P. Slatin shares his journalistic style writing work which he often bases on his own life, as well as his urban exploration and nature photography on his blog, www.tomslatin.com. Many of his images are available on Canva and 500px.com. He has contributed to various publications as a writer to discuss photography technique, motivation and inspiration. Slatin has had several of his photographs selected by Jones Soda Company’s to appear on their actual soda bottles. Thomas Slatin’s passion and work as an urban exploration photographer has lead to the restoration of a property by a real estate developer on at least one occasion, paraphrasing Slatin. In his closing remarks of the interview, he reminded all to reflect upon and consider the following questions, “are you doing the work you love and staying authentic in your true talents and abilities”? To reach out to him email, tom@tomslatin.com.  
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