2021 Community Choice Award, Ben Thouard - Oceanographic

Finalist Community Choice Award

Ben Thouard French Polynesia

17°50´50” S 149°16´2” W

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.”