Tom Hawker

I grew up with photography as part of my life, as my father had been a military photographer. My life has never been without a camera.

I went the corporate route as a career and took up yacht racing as a form of relaxation and sport. As my sailing career developed, I attended many international regattas.

With family the camera became more important, as my daughters pursued national and international rowing careers. The best way to be close was to be involved as a safety or umpire boat driver, close to the action. The camera was always there and ready to get the shots that mattered.

As the yacht racing expanded, the camera became an integral part of it. Nothing is better than being at Antigua Race Week or Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez and having the ability to be in the action with one's camera.

Unfortunately, sport injuries reduced my ability to race hard, and as a result the photography became my way of being involved and in the action. It has been a good combination: knowledge of the sport with the ability to get the shot from a racer's perspective.

I have been able to pursue photography full time now and have photographed many major events: the America's Cup, SailGP, the Swiftsure International Yacht Race, RC44 regattas, the 6 Metre Worlds, the Star North Americans and Cowes Race Week, as examples.

I have also been lucky in my travels to photograph the brown bears of Katmai, the wildlife of Botswana and South Africa and the eagles of Vancouver Island, along with the World Rowing Championships and World Coastal Rowing Championships.

More to come!

Hope you enjoy the shots on my website.

Cheers, Tom