Ocean Photographer of the Year 2026, BENTHO6 - Oceanographic

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Finalist Fine Art Photographer of the Year

Ben Thouard French Polynesia

17°52'04.4"S 149°15'02.8"W

A powerful wave breaks off the coast of Tahiti, its lip shaped by offshore winds as sunlight turns the spray into a glowing veil. Shot from a jet ski using a long telephoto lens, a moment of ocean chaos is transformed into a carefully balanced landscape, reminiscent of the famous print The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai.

BEHIND THE LENS

Ocean Photographer of the Year 2026, BENTHO6

Ben Thouard France

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ABOUT THE IMAGE

  • Accessed site via boat
  • Canon EOS 5D IV & 200-400 f/4 lens
  • ISO 100, f/16, 1/2500s

Originally from the south-east of France, Ben´s passion for the ocean and photography brought him around the world. He discovered Tahiti 20 years ago and decided to call it home. After shooting watersports for magazines and brands for over a decade he decided to slowly take a turn in his career and shoot water in a more personal style. His goal is to capture what really inspires him. The beauty of nature, the element of water, the waves and more particularly the underwater world. That photographic quest draws a whole new perspective in his photography career. It inspired Ben to create three art books : Surface, Turbulences and Aqua Obscura and it opened doors to art galleries allowing him to pursue his own projects and to shoot what he really loves: water.

MORE IMAGES BY Ben Thouard

AdventurePhotographer of the Year

2026 French Polynesia

Ocean Photographer of the Year 2026, BENTHO6

AdventurePhotographer of the Year

2025 Portugal

Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025, BENTHO2

The OceanPhotographer of the Year

2022 French Polynesia

Ocean Photographer of the Year 2022, BT

Fine ArtPhotographer of the Year

2022 French Polynesia

Ocean Fine Art Photographer of the Year 2022, BT

Community ChoiceAward

2021 French Polynesia

2021 Community Choice Award, Ben Thouard

AdventurePhotographer of the Year

2021 French Polynesia

2021 APoY runner-up, Ben Thouard

AdventurePhotographer of the Year

2021 French Polynesia

2021 Adventure Photographer of the Year, Ben Thouard

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