Find out what Tom has been up to in the past.
Clients.
The road of a photojournalist and filmmaker takes tons of unexpected turns and twists and besides talent, one always needs a good portion of luck. Success only comes with consistent quality and the list of clients Tom has worked with over the years proves you get what you expect when you decide to engage him.
A few stats.
Awards & Screenings
2024
Third Place in 'Environmental' category at the World Shootout Competition
2023
Highly Honoured at the Nature’s Best International Photography Awards for Searching for the Kulawai - Bird Conservation in Fiji
Honourable Mention in the 'Photo Journalist Award' category at Ocean Geographic Picture of the Year Competition
Finalist in the 'Human & Ocean’ category at the Ocean Geographic Picture of the Year Competition
First place in the ‘Underwater’ category at the Tommy Schultz Photography Contest
Semifinals in 'Conservation' and ‘Sharks’ category at the World Shootout Competition
2022
Second Place in the 'Nature-based Solutions & Ocean Exploration' category at the United Nations World Oceans Day Photo Contest
Two selected images among the 100 photograph ‘Ocean Visuals Collection’ by Climate Outreach
Finalist in the ‘Human Connection Award’ of the ‘Ocean Photographer of the Year 2022 Competition
Official Selection at Wildlife Conservation Film Festival 2022 in New York for “Discovery of Oceanic Manta Rays in Fiji // Manta Project Fiji 2022”
Official Selection at Wildlife Conservation Film Festival 2022 in New York for “Coral Spawning in Fiji”
First place in the ‘Animal Portraits’ category at the World Nature Photography Awards
2021
Semifinals in 'Conservation' category at the World Shootout Competition
Runner Up at the Howard Hall Award of Excellence at the 2021 Ocean Geographic Picture of the Year Competition for the film MY FIJI SHARK
Honourable Mention as a Photo Journalist at the Ocean Geographic Award of Excellence for my article about Fiji’s Great Sea Reef published by Oceanographic at the 2021 Ocean Geographic Picture of the Year Competition
Official Selection at the Earth Photo 2021 Competition for Searching for the Kulawai // Bird Conservation in Fiji
Honorary Mention in the video category for Physioshark | Baby sharks and climate change at Nature’s Best Photography Awards 2020
Official Selection at Wildlife Conservation Film Festival 2021 in New York for Searching for the Kulawai // Bird Conservation in Fiji
Official Selection at CINEMARE Int'l Ocean Film Festival KIEL for Physioshark | Baby sharks and climate change
2020
Bronze Trophy in 'Short Film' Category at International Underwater Festival of New Caledonia
Semifinals in 'Sharks' category at the World Shootout Competition
2019
Official Selection at Moving Waters Film Festival 2019 in India for FishAct | Fighting Illegal Fishing
Official Selection at Ocean Coast Film Festival in Portugal for Physioshark | Baby sharks and climate change
Official Selection'at Wildlife Conservation Film Festival 2019 in New York for FishAct | Fighting Illegal Fishing
First Prize (Gold Manta) in 'Black & White' Category at International Underwater Festival of New Caledonia
Special Mention in the The Howard Hall Award for Outstanding Achievement Category at the Ocean Geographic Pictures of the Year Contest for Physioshark | Baby sharks and climate change
Official Selection at DEEPWAVE Film Festival for REPICORE | Research in Melanesia
Official Selection at Ocean City Film Festival for REPICORE | Research in Melanesia
Official Selection at Raw Science Film Festival for REPICORE | Research in Melanesia
Official Selection at Raw Science Film Festival for Physioshark | Baby sharks and climate change
2018
Semifinals in the ‘Sharks' category at the World Shootout Competition
Best Cinematography at A Show For A Change Film Festival for REPICORE | Research in Melanesia
Best Cinematography at A Show For A Change Film Festival for Physioshark | Baby sharks and climate change
Official Selection Barbados Independent Film Festival for Physioshark | Baby sharks and climate change
Official Selection Wildlife Conservation Film Festival in New York for Physioshark | Baby sharks and climate change
Finalist at Siena International Photo Awards
2nd Place in Video category at Lens beyond Ocean
2016
Semifinals in the ‘sharks' category at the World Shootout Competition
1st place at the German Science Photography award in the 'reportage' category
2015
Final Round of the HIPA Award
Publications
2023
The Shark Reef Marine Reserve In Fiji (Photobook), ISBN: 978-982-101-441-0
The Guardian, Photostory about World Turtle Day
2021
The Guardian (Web, photos and text)
Nereus, Swiss Diving Magazine (Photo contributer. Switzerland)
The Guardian (Print & Web, United Kingdom)
Oceanographic (Print & Web, Worldwide)
2020
Oceanographic (Web, Worldwide)
WWF-US Magazine (United States)
Cosmopolitan (Germany)
Der Spiegel (Germany)
Oceanographic (Print & Web, Worldwide)
2019
FIJITIME | Fiji Airways In-Flight Magazine (Fiji)
Island Spirit | Fly Vanuatu Inflight Magazine (Vanuatu)
FIJITIME | Fiji Airways In-Flight Magazine (Fiji)
Unterwasser (Germany)
FIJITIME | Fiji Airways In-Flight Magazine (Fiji)
Bild der Wissenschaft (Germany)
FIJITIME | Fiji Airways In-Flight Magazine (Fiji)
FIJITIME | Fiji Airways In-Flight Magazine (Fiji)
2018
VDA-Aktuell (Germany)
FIJITIME | Fiji Airways In-flight magazine (Fiji)
TAUCHEN (Germany)
DIVER (United Kingdom)
Welt am Sonntag (Germany)
2017
The Guardian (UK)
TAUCHEN (Germany)
Divemaster (Germany)
Leibniz-Magazine (Germany)
DIVER (United Kingdom)
2016
TAUCHEN (Germany)
Unterwasser (Germany)
Fiji times (Fiji)
Scientific Publications
2024: Glaus, Kerstin, Luke Gordon, Tom Vierus, Natasha D. Marosi, and Helen Sykes. Rays in the Shadows: Batoid Diversity, Occurrence, and Conservation Status in Fiji. Biology 13, no. 2: 73. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13020073
2022: Gordon, Luke & Vierus, Tom. First photographic evidence of oceanic manta rays (Mobula birostris) at two locations in the Fiji islands. PeerJ, 10, e13883.
2019: Paris, Andrew, Vierus, Tom, Gehrig, Stefan. Vanua o Votua Shark and Ray Survey Report: Activity 1.1.1.2. Fiji Ridge to Reef Project. University of the South Pacific Institute of Applied Science. Suva, Fiji
(11) (PDF) Fiji Ridge to Reef Project Activity 1.1.1.2: Vanua o Votua Shark and Ray Survey Report.2018: Vierus, Tom, Gehrig, Stefan, Brunnschweiler, Juerg. M., Glaus, Kerstin, Zimmer, Martin, Marie, Amandine. D., & Rico, Ciro. Discovery of a multispecies shark aggregation and parturition area in the Ba Estuary, Fiji Islands. Ecology and evolution, 8(14), 7079-7093.
Exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions
2021: “Closeness” at Alliance Française de Suva, Fiji
2020: “Being Alive - The Pacific Environment Above and Below the Water Surface” at Alliance Française de Suva, Fiji
2018: “Threatened oasis - Tropical Coral Reefs” at the Palaeontological Museum in Munich, Germany
2017: “Fascination sharks: hunters or hunted?” at the House of Science, Bremen, Germany
Group Exhibitions
2022: “Dancers in the Sky, Caring for Nature”. China Cultural Centre, Suva, Fiji
2021: Fiji Arts Council, Display of Local Artists’ Work, Fiji
2018: “Images of the South Pacific” at the IUCN Oceania Regional Conservation Forum, Fiji
2018: “20. Internationalen Fürstenfelder Naturfototage” Germany
2016: “Fiji and New Caledonia Underwater” at Alliance Française de Suva, Fiji
Interviews & Honorary Work
Interviews
Make the Oceans Great Again - Interview: Marine Conservationist and Storyteller Tom Vierus
Honorary Work
2021: Jury Member for Photography competition at ICYMARE 2021
2019: Jury Member for the SCIENCE FILM EXPOSURE HACKATHON in Switzerland
2018: Jury Member for the G7 OCEAN YOUTH INNOVATION CHALLENGE 2018
2017: Jury Member for the CASIO VEKTORIA AWARD 2017
Fields of work.
Science
Covering scientific expeditions, documenting scientists in the laboratory or in the field and helping communicate science to the public is one of Tom’s key strength. Having graduated with a B.Sc. in Biology and a Master’s degree in Tropical Marine Ecology with a focus on sharks helps Tom approach topics with additional storytelling angles.
Environment
Often intertwined with scientific storytelling, environmental visual content is the major component of Tom’s visual work. Showcasing anthropogenic impact on the natural world and man-made destruction of ecosystems, but also conservation success stories and highlighting positive efforts by individuals, NGOs, and governments, are all components of environmental storytelling. The ultimate goal is always to inspire positive change.
Tourism
Creating promotional content of tourism activities, high-end resorts, or private islands, can have a major impact in driving more revenue. Sustainability and eco-conscious tourism operators can have a great impact in inspiring change in their clients and creating sustainable revenue streams in their respective countries.
In the past, Tom has completed several commercial assignments that involved real-estate and architecture shootings, corporate and product shootings, and promotional short films advertising commercial services of various clients.
Commercial
Press.
Press Mentions.
