French photographer Ben Thouard has established himself as one of the world's most acclaimed water photographers, creating stunning visual poetry that captures the ocean's power and hidden beauty. Over his 17-year career based in Tahiti, Thouard has developed a unique artistic approach that transforms the sea into breathtaking works of art, treating the ocean as more than just a subject but as his home, muse, and lifelong companion.

Thouard's journey into photography began almost by chance during his teenage years when he discovered one of his father's old cameras tucked away at home. Raised near the sea and spending much of his youth aboard his father's sailboat, he had developed an early and profound connection to the water that would ultimately shape his entire career. After buying a few rolls of film and experimenting with various subjects, his artistic eye naturally returned to what he loved most: the shoreline, seascapes, and the mesmerizing play of light across water.

"The ocean has always been my first and biggest passion. I have been raised by the sea, spent a lot of time on my dad's sailboat, and have always had a profound love and admiration for the ocean," Thouard explains. This deep connection led him to realize that photography could be more than just a hobby – it became his true calling. His dedication first took him to Hawaii, where he immersed himself in the surf community, before eventually settling in Tahiti, where he has lived for the past 17 years, continuously inspired by the surrounding oceanic environment.

Over the years, Thouard has refined a distinctive style that emphasizes immersion rather than observation. Instead of remaining safely on shore like traditional photographers, he chooses to enter the water itself, using his camera to capture textures, forms, and movements that remain invisible from land. This approach has defined his evolution from a conventional surf photographer to an artist creating deeply personal projects focused on the intricate interactions between light and ocean.

"Being in love with the ocean, I had to get my camera in the water and document the amazing light and texture that can be found below the surface. I started as a surf photographer, and slowly dedicated my entire time to my personal project in which I tried to showcase the beauty of surfing, waves, and water in general," Thouard explains. His background in painting, which began in childhood when he sketched and painted waves, continues to influence his photographic vision today.

Thouard's technique incorporates slow shutter speeds to create a fluid, painterly quality that transforms the ocean's raw power into something abstract and deeply emotional. "I use a lot of slow shutter speed in order to create that painterly look. My ultimate goal is to be able to transmit the emotion that I feel while taking these photos in the ocean," he says. This approach softens the sea's inherent wildness and presents it as ethereal art that speaks to viewers' souls.

The photographer's creative process is characterized by patience and careful observation, shaped entirely by the ocean's natural rhythms. Projects often begin without clear direction, with Thouard simply floating in the water with his camera, observing how light shifts, how water moves, and how textures emerge from chance interactions of tide, weather, and sunlight. This initial stage can last months or even years, and only after reviewing hundreds of thousands of images does a clear narrative begin to reveal itself.

"Most of the time I start by floating around with my camera, just observing and paying a lot of attention to light, textures, movement and any beauty I can spot below the surface. I could be shooting for a month by simply being attracted by what I found interesting but without really knowing the sense of it all," Thouard explains. Once a direction emerges, it becomes the guiding principle for the next several years of work, with Thouard exploring the theme from every possible angle using different lenses and techniques.

The editing process proves equally rigorous and time-consuming. Sorting through vast archives of images, Thouard gradually narrows his selections to a handful of photographs that work together cohesively. For him, creating a photo book represents as much of an artistic endeavor as capturing the original photographs. "Making a book is another thing but it is probably my favorite aspect of photography. I love working on selections, finding photos that work together, laying out a photo book all the way to design and printing. Holding that book in your hand after a couple years of work is a huge relief and a huge reward," Thouard says.

Throughout his career, water remains Thouard's constant and obsessive subject matter. Each of his three published art books explores this theme in distinctly different ways, demonstrating the endless possibilities within his chosen medium. His first book, "Surface," revealed the hidden world inside barreling waves. "Turbulences" turned its focus below the impact zone, capturing the chaotic vortexes created by collapsing surf. His newest work, "Aqua Obscura," concentrates on photographing bubbles with slow shutter speeds, transforming them into forms that resemble jellyfish or celestial bodies.

"Yes, water. I think I am obsessed with water and waves, or the ocean in general. I have done three personal art books about water photography and I would not see myself doing anything else," Thouard admits. Rather than moving away from his subject to explore new themes, he continues to find endless variation within the ocean's depths, with each project uncovering fresh perspectives on an environment he has spent a lifetime studying.

Shooting in water presents unique challenges that extend far beyond traditional photography concerns. While Thouard acknowledges the importance of proper equipment, he emphasizes that technology represents only one piece of the complex equation. Physical endurance, comfort in heavy surf conditions, and extensive experience in anticipating ocean movements prove as critical as technical photography skills.

"It is something to take a photo, it is something else to take it in the water. Moving in the water takes great physical conditions and knowledge. Holding your camera through a water housing, making sure you have the right set up, the right lens, without water drop on your front port is the big challenge of water," Thouard explains. Perhaps most importantly, successful water photography requires exceptional anticipation skills, as the ocean's rapid movements make reactive shooting impossible.

"In the water everything is slower and longer. When you see the photo happening it is too late. You have to predict the moment to be able to capture it," he notes. This demanding environment requires photographers to adjust instinctively and predict fleeting patterns of light and water that vanish within seconds.

Currently, Thouard's primary focus centers on his forthcoming book "Aqua Obscura," scheduled for release in early October. This project represents the culmination of several years of dedicated work and will be promoted through exhibitions across Europe and the United States. A presale campaign runs until September 24, offering collectors and ocean enthusiasts the opportunity to secure copies before official publication.

"Sharing my love for the ocean through these works is my favorite thing in life," Thouard reflects. For this dedicated artist, each new body of work represents more than years of patient exploration – it serves as a method to translate the ocean's living poetry into images that resonate with viewers' deepest emotions. Through his photography, Thouard invites audiences to enter the water alongside him, witnessing the eternal dance of light and wave, feeling the rhythm, power, and serenity of the sea, and sharing in the awe and wonder that fuels his lifelong devotion to capturing the ocean's essence, frame by frame.