Tom Liden has been taking pictures professionally for over 45 years. He was one of the first of many skilled trades people to arrive in rural Mendocino County in the early 1970's. He still lives on the same property he homesteaded upon arriving in the county, a unique rural setting which has become a useful subject for many location shoots.

There were few, if any, commercial photographers in the county at that time, and Tom found his business growing along with his new clients and the burgeoning northern California wine industry.

"I had all the classic photographic references," recalls Tom, "like having worked in major studios in New York and San Francisco; but what I found people really appreciated was my background in fine arts. Anybody could take a picture, but clients told me I had a consistent innovative and creative approach to my work which made them look good."

Tom maintains a fully equipped studio in a renovated building in downtown Ukiah. He specializes in studio work, but his stock library attests to the fact that he has done his share of on-site shoots in vineyards, manufacturing facilities, from helicopters and in galleries.

"Mendocino is an extremely diverse and physically beautiful county. I love being a part of it."