Winners Gallery
Finalist Community Choice Award
Ben Thouard French Polynesia
A surfer wipeout, as captured from below the surface. “I shot this image under the wave of Teahupo’o,” says photographer Ben Thouard. “I call this image ‘The fight’ as it visually describes the feeling of getting wiped out at Teahupo’o and fighting with the turbulence to make it back to the surface as your board drags you backward. This is the unseen part of surfing, yet so mesmerizing.”
BEHIND THE LENS
Ben Thouard France
ABOUT THE IMAGE
- Medium swell
- Taken while freediving
- Cloudy conditions
- Mid-morning
MORE IMAGES BY Ben Thouard
The OceanPhotographer of the Year
2022 French Polynesia
Fine ArtPhotographer of the Year
2022 French Polynesia
AdventurePhotographer of the Year
2021 French Polynesia
AdventurePhotographer of the Year
2021 French Polynesia
Reconnect. Immerse yourself. Be inspired.
Enjoy the vibrancy, beauty and impact of each year's finalist photography, celebrated in our Ocean Photographer of the Year coffee table book collection.