Welcome! I’m Thomas Murphy, a California-based journalist & photographer.
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Cadaver Investigation
An investigation by Annenberg Media found USC sold donated bodies to a U.S. Navy trauma training program involving Israeli military medical personnel, leaving donor families shocked and angry. Relatives said they believed the remains would be used for medical research and education, not military exercises. This illuminating report by myself and USC student journalists raises broader ethical questions about informed consent, transparency in body donation programs, and how universities oversee partnerships involving cadavers used in military-connected training.
I reported on UC San Diego’s involvement, spending months questioning the UC President’s Office and UC Health. Using social media, I found three families affected by the news: two donor families and one prospective donor. These conversations were difficult; feelings of loss seemed to sting more with this new knowledge.
Then, Al Jazeera supported our work, collaborating with us to push the reporting even further. The final result is the documentary linked below, which circulated widely online.
Testimonials
Solo Portrait Session
“Really satisfied with how Thomas rendered my vision and how he brought out the best in each location! It was really easy to trust his eye for detail and how he seamlessly guided me through poses. I felt more in the moment, and I think that translated really well in the final results!”
— Dave Vo
Group Portrait Session
“He does everything from helping you think of poses to fixing small folds in clothing. The attention to detail in his shots is amazing and he knows the best spots to take pictures at!! I would highly recommend :)”
— Calvin Nguyen
Family Portrait Session
“Thomas made the photo shoot process easy. He has a good eye for backgrounds, composition & positioning, and was clear with his instructions. The outcome was high-quality photos that exceeded our expectations.”
— Aniruddha Karve
Favorite pictures of 2025
Every year is full of opportunities to take amazing pictures. As I experience the world around me, I’m constantly reflecting on how I visually capture these fleeting moments — that’s the best way to develop as an artist. For me, this collection acts as a reference point. For you, it’s a window into my unique experience.
