YO! tony “vato” jimenez is a retired USAF combat rescue aerial gunner who put down THE MINI-GUN & PICKED UP a CAMERA.
the goal: use the lens to give back, highlight others, & be creative.
Tony is an acclaimed sports photographer and creator based in The Pacific Northwest. The retired USAF Master Sergeant began his photography journey in 2009 while serving as Combat Rescue Aerial Gunner (1A7X1). His initial goal was just to capture those quiet, reflective moments during deployments. As his deployments began to stack up, he began to learn action photography. Tony honed his skills capturing the intensity and energy while serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, and the Horn of Africa, capturing the laughs, blood, sweat, & hard silence.
Upon his retirement, Tony turned his lens toward his daughter's softball journey, capturing the excitement and camaraderie of elite level softball. This experience ignited a passion for highlighting athletes striving to reach their full potential. He now travels across the country highlighting athletes who look to reach the next level, from the quite moments to the heart-pounding action.
From the powdered dust in Afghanistan, to the hard dirt of a softball diamond, Tony uses his photography to tell stories. His photos allow the viewer to determine a narrative, but the subjects will always carry the memories. Tony’s work has been featured in a number of major athletic brands.