The world-famous waves off the coast of Teahupo’o in Tahiti were the stunning backdrop for the Olympic surfing events at this year’s Games. Amidst the competitive chaos, only two photographers were granted access to the ocean to capture the athletes up close.
While most photographers were limited to shooting from boats or the beach, one photographer, in particular, Ben Thouard, spent approximately 10 hours in the water each day during the events, offering a unique and intimate perspective of the competition.
Thouard emphasized the significance of being in the element with the surfers, especially when shooting underwater. The clear waters of Tahiti provided him with the opportunity to witness surfers navigating the waves and experiencing the turbulence up close, offering a dimension of the sport rarely seen by others.
Having relocated from France to Tahiti in 2008, Thouard has dedicated the past 16 years to immersing himself in the ocean. Despite the distance from his homeland, he expressed his delight at working at a home Olympics.
Utilizing his surfing expertise, Thouard strategically positioned himself to capture the best moments during the contest. He described the experience of shooting the Olympics from the water as peaceful, with the immersion creating a meditative state where focus was solely on the underwater world.
Thouard shared, “Your ears get full of water, so you stop hearing everything that happens above water. Your mind is only focused about what’s happening underwater. You enter a whole new world.” He further explained that the combination of water movement and intense focus during photography felt akin to meditation, creating a serene and tranquil environment amidst the competitive energy of the event.
