Tom Arnold | Underwater Photographer | UK
Currently based in Bristol studying photography at the University of West England, Tom Arnold grew up in Wales and was fascinated with island living and the cold marine ecosystems around the UK. After finishing school he took a few years off to travel around Spain, it was there that he learnt to dive and eventually ended up on an aquatic path studying Marine and Natural History Photography at Falmouth University.
What is a typical day like for you?
Go and surf early when it’s on! Lockdown has been kind of limiting so I haven’t been able to go diving but still able to free dive here, usually with my camera. When I'm not in the sea I love watching shorts and documentaries about surfing, marine life and connecting with like-minded ocean creatives.
What are the fondest memories from your upbringing that you feel impacted your life choices and lifestyle today?
Spending weekends out on my uncle’s yacht off the Welsh and Irish coast as a teenager Spearfishing and interacting with marine life responsibly and sustainably. This has ingrained in me a love and respect for the sea and how important it is to protect it and its inhabitants.
When did you first pick up a camera and shooting underwater?
I've surfed and been in and around the sea since I was young but got a go pro when I was about fifteen and in the intervening years gained more experience through diving and now have multiple dive and surf housings!
What/who currently inspires you?
I've been subscribing to Oceanographic Magazine for a while and reading the stories they print are super inspiring. When it comes to people, I love the work of Christian Vizl for my underwater fix. I have a few of his books and for me his monochrome shots of sharks and cetaceans top it. On Instagram, I follow a guy called Ben Thouard and some of the shots he gets of wave action definitely inspire me to push it a bit further in the surf.
What path did you choose after leaving school?
I had a few years off and went to Spain and learnt to dive then ended up going to uni to study Marine and Natural History Photography in Falmouth but I'd say most of my work and progression as a marine photographer has come outside of university. I ran the diving club for Falmouth and Exeter for a while and am now hoping to start a job here in Pembrokeshire with a company called Celtic Deep.
What do you value most in life?
Family and friends most of all. But the sea is very important to me. It focuses and grounds me like nothing else does. Be it surfing or diving or just being near it, my love for it is always striving me to be better. I could never live in a city!
What would you most like to change in the world/environment today?
Marine plastic pollution is probably the most poignant issue for me. It’s a really serious issue that thankfully the wider public are becoming more aware of thanks to photography and filmmaking. Individual action goes a long way and changing small habits to make less of an impact has become important to me. Hopefully, with better education on marine ecosystems, we can move further towards creating a circular economy and stop destroying the ocean.
Are there any books/documentaries that have guided your thinking?
Like I am sure is the case for many, the original Blue Planet series installed a deep love of marine life in me from a young age. When I was younger I read a book called Sea Room about one man's account of living on a small inherited island chain off the west coast of Scotland. I think I became a bit obsessed with island living and the special marine ecosystems around Wales Scotland and Ireland since then.
What legacy do you hope to leave?
An archive of images and videos from travels and dives exploring the ocean is a big thing. Having work seen in the right places to make a real change. But the ability to be able to inspire my future children to respect and love the sea is just as important.
What advice would you give to anyone looking to follow their dreams as an ocean Storyteller?
Start local. It’s great to travel abroad to clear waters with exotic marine life but definitely connect with and learn to shoot what’s on your doorstep first. There's more there than you'd think!
