Articles

A goliath grouper surrounded by baitfish during the annual grouper aggregation around wrecks in South Florida, USA
 

For Thomas Hickey, photography is about community and people. His journey began with underwater photography, where he met fascinating individuals and embraced a lifelong challenge. It became an art he could chase for years, always a puzzle he would never fully solve but continuously striving for new perspectives.

Although Thomas has spent two decades in the U.S. Army—a career not typically associated with an artistic lifestyle—photography has served as his creative outlet. It took him time to realize he needed space for art, especially in a military life that prioritizes action over reflection. Photography provided balance, offering self-expression and patience while helping him maintain joy amid the pressures of military life.

Thomas’s passion for scuba diving and photography developed over time. A childhood desire to dive evolved into a fascination with underwater photography, sparked by meeting divers and photographers like Jon Anderson and Ollie Clarke. Slowly, he honed his skills, upgrading his gear from a compact camera to a Nikon DSLR. Through photography and diving, Thomas has connected with an amazing community and found an art that will challenge and fulfill him for life.
 

A silky shark cuts through the blue waters of the Gulf Stream, Florida, USA
 

An adorable, and normally shy, harbor seal comes in for a peek at the photographer, California, USA
 

A California sea lion swims beneath a kelp canopy in Monterey Bay, California, USA
 

A fringehead warily eyes the camera, California, USA
 

A rare encounter to have underwater, a curious sea otter checks out his reflection in the dome, California, USA
 

The otherworldly eyes of the scaly-tailed mantis shrimp peer out of its burrow, Florida, USA
 

An up-close and personal look at a colorful little shrimp, California, USA
 

An iconic nudibranch of the Pacific coast of North America, the opalescent, California, USA
 

A manatee calf swims through the murk of a freshwater Florida canal, Florida, USA
 

A lemon shark with its remora entourage, Florida, USA
 

A colorful little nudibranch ambling along the substrate, Oman
 

A stunning mosaic patterned moray peers out of its den, Oman
 

A gorgeous emperor shrimp sheltered in the gills of a Spanish dancer, Oman
 

To see more of Tom’s work, please give him a follow on Instagram.