You may not know the name Leroy Bellet, but you’ve likely seen his imagery. The 17-year-old from New South Wales has made a name for himself taking the brainchild of French photographer Laurent Pujol, shooting surf images in barreling surf behind the subject, to new heights. And, arguably, to waves of higher consequence.
Bellet also manages to balance chasing slabs with Russell Bierke in Australia and trips to Tahiti to shoot with Michel Bourez, Matahi Drollet, and Craig Anderson with a full-time school schedule.
The technique Bellet is partial to is called “double towing.” Where he and his subject get whipped into a draining pit on the same tow rope behind a Jet Ski. Unlike the surfers he’s following, Bellet rarely makes it out of the barrel – having to put himself in a more critical position to fully frame the shot. In other words, nearly every wave he takes a beating trying his best to avoid breaking or losing his equipment.
He doesn’t always succeed. As is the case in the video above with a Phantom high-speed camera valued at over $100,000 that falls victim to a lip guillotine at an unnamed Australian slab. There are near-misses, too. Like when Bellet loses his camera after a full day of shooting at Teahupo’o. The contents of that nearly-lost hard drive ultimately land him the cover of Surfing World magazine. Close call.
If this is the level of imagery Bellet is producing at 17, it’s hard to imagine what he’ll produce as he continues to hone his skills in the years to come.
