Michael Thomas has been a professional photographer at the highest level for over twenty years.
Starting at the Otago Daily Times in 1984, firstly as darkroom technician then photographer, he moved to London in 1989 for the next 16 years.
He worked at the Sport and General Press Agency for four years covering everything from the Cannes film festival,1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, 1991 Rugby World Cup, Wimbledon 89-91, to hard news and features. His shot of Wade Dooley scoring won him 1992 Rugby Photograph of the Year.
In 1993 he was offered a fulltime position at the Mail on Sunday, Britains biggest selling quality Sunday newspaper with a circulation of circa 2.4 million. He spent the next twelve years as one of their first out the door photographers travelling the world photographing everything from the world trouble hotspots to top sporting events and soft feature stories.
Based in Queenstown, New Zealand since 2005, he has still been called on by the MOS in the UK to cover news and feature stories in India, Iraq, Dubai, Pakistan, Japan, China, Bali and Australia. He has also covered the 2005 British Lions Tour, 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, 2008 England cricket tour of NZ, 2008 Beijing Olympics, 2010 England rugby tour of Australia, 2010 Ashes cricket tour of Australia and the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Recent work has included everything from product, property development, hotel and aerial photography to a seven page spread and front cover in the UK Hello magazine, three page spread in the US People magazine, Gibbston Valley Winery's new website and Destination Queenstown's 2009, 10 and 11 advertising campaigns. Please check out the different portfolios and you will see examples of a wide range of photographic work.
His versatility -- he's at ease covering news, features, sports and business assignments -- is this photographer's strength.
Clients include The Mail on Sunday UK, The Daily Mail UK, NZPA, The Times of London, Sunday Star Times, Herald on Sunday, Hello magazine UK, The Sydney Morning Herald, Daily Mirror, Auckland Airport, Queenstown Airport,Destination Queenstown, Air New Zealand, Tourism New Zealand, Audi New Zealand, Abbott Australia, Westpac Banking Corporation, Feast Advertising, Cruikshank furniture, Gibbston Valley Station development, Gibbston Valley Wines, Rare Edition Designs, and Southern PR.