Unbelievable Landscape Photos Taken From Inside Crashing Waves

This remarkable film presents the work of ocean photographer Ben Thouard who spent a year photographing from inside waves as they crashed into the reefs and shores of the island of Tahiti.

The project, entitled SURFACE, took more than a year to shoot as Ben had to wait for the perfect conditions to capture his images. As he mentions in the film, this combination of weather and waves perfect for shooting only comes about on a few occasions each year and sometimes for only half an hour at a time. The visuals of this film and Ben's photographs are testament to the number of hours that he has spent in the water, waiting for the right moments.

In seeking to present a new understanding of the sea, Ben's work comes at a time when concern for our oceans is increasing. The amount of plastic is having a dramatic effect on marine life, and, as Ben notes in this interview, there's a hope that these images can help to "sensitize people about how good the ocean is, and how urgently we need to take care of it."

With a background in windsurf and surf photography, Ben is accustomed to spending long periods of time in the sea, and uses an AquaTech Delphin 1D Underwater Sport Housing to allow him to shoot with his Canon 1DX Mark II. His years of experience in the ocean allow him to work safely, understanding tides and currents, and working very close to rocks and reefs that can be incredibly dangerous if the waves are not judged correctly.

The film itself is a stunning production, created by ROAM, a relatively new media company whose founders include some well-established names in the world of adventure, travel and extreme sports photography, and filmmaking. Jimmy Chin and Renan Ozturk have been producing incredible imagery for several years, working alongside a roster of other renowned athletes, explorers and filmmakers.

To see more of Ben's work, find him on Instagram or visit his website.