Ben Thouard is one of the surfing’s best photographers. Photography is a tough gig to stand out in these days, but Thouard manages to do just fine. That’s because he’s got a few things going for him: he spends most of his time in Tahiti where the waves and everything that surrounds them is postcard-pretty, and he is immensely talented. He’s got a new book out called Aqua Obscura that features a pile of his jaw-dropping images, and Morgan Maassen, another master of the lens, made a video about the making of the book. How meta, right?
“Here he is seen and heard exploring his take on the sea,” Maassen explained, “and how he tirelessly pushes his creativity to capture it through his eyes.”
Thouard calls Tahiti home, and he’s made himself a staple in the lineup. His career path is an interesting one. There are only so many photos of a surfer and a wave one can take before the photographer might feel a little stifled. Thouard realized that Tahiti, with its swaying palms, crystal clear water, and vibrant colors was a perfect place to frame through a barrel or from under the water.
“Under water,” Thouard narrates, “time takes the shape of waves. I listen to the clash and the silence mingling beneath the surface. I end up looking at what the eye cannot see: the states of matter; the hidden folds of the wave; the ever-changing schemes of the sea.”
You can purchase Ben Thouard’s book, Aqua Obscura, here.
