About La Jetée Press
It was frustration that led Tom Harris to found La Jetee Press. A life-long aviation enthusiast, Tom found himself disappointed with the aviation books on the market. They rarely covered pivotal subjects and when they did, they lacked historical context. An industry as rich as aviation needs its stories told with nuance, in complete narratives that consider the politics, culture, and defining moments of the era. An aircraft is more than metal; its very existence is shaped by the intentions of its human creators and the world they navigated.
In 2020, Tom decided to publish the kind of books he wanted to read. He partnered with writer JP Santiago, who brings an unparalleled knowledge of aviation and geopolitical history, and artist Gaël Elegoët, whose work elevates aircraft beyond cold, clinical side views in a way that makes you feel like you’re looking at a photograph.
Every La Jetee Press release features extensive research, detailed schematics, and stunning art and photography—some of it never published before. These are books you will want to keep and revisit for years to come.
Biographies
Tom J. Harris, Founder
Tom J. Harris is a 4th-generation Seattleite and the Founder of La Jetée Press. After receiving his subscription to Aviation Week & Space Technology for his 13th birthday, he followed the battles between Lockheed, Boeing, McDonnell Douglas, and Airbus, rooting for Boeing with the feverish passion of a Yankees fan. Tom is an avid traveler, extensively exploring India, Southeast Asia, China, and Japan. His happy place is at 40,000 feet with his wife, Emily, and their son, Sam.
Gaël Elegoët, Co-Founder
Gaël Elegoët is a graphic designer and the Co-Founder of La Jetée Press.
Early in life, he was caught by a great interest in things metallic (or not) with wings. He spent most of his time either sticking his nose in the air trying to identify the noisy thing flying over him or reading about planes and trying to draw them. Despite consequences including frequent neck pain and bad school grades, Elegoët managed to make a career out of his passion. He now doodles for a living with the aid of computers, specializing in illustrations, diagrams, maps, plans, photo editing, and matte painting using CG 2d and 3d tools. His work has appeared in Automobile-Magazine (Fr), Aeroplane-Monthly (GB), and Géo Magazine (Int), among others.
JP Santiago, Co-Founder
JP Santiago is the Co-Founder at La Jetée Press, a self-professed avgeek, and a family medicine physician. JP earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas and spent over 20 years in a suburban private practice before leaving in 2020 to join the Indian Health Service. Now, he commutes between his home in Texas and Native American communities and reservations in the Pacific Northwest, providing medical care to address generations of health inequities.
Aviation has long run in JP’s blood, leading him to pursue a parallel career of art and writing related to untold aviation histories. His words have appeared in a variety of online venues, while his aviation art profiles include commissioned and published works in magazines and books. JP has always believed that the many twists and turns on the long road of aviation history are worthy destinations to be shared not just with fellow avgeeks, but also the public at large.