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Ben Thouard

Originally from the south east of France, I have always had a deep connection with the ocean and profound passion for water sports since a very young age. The ocean has always been a part of my life!

When I discovered photography, I immediately tried to capture the emotions you feel when you are at sea, in the waves, swimming or surfing, when you become one with the element of water.

These two passions have been the rhythm of my life for over 20 years, taking me to the other side of the world, which became my home..

Tahiti, a small island in the South Pacific that hosts some of the best waves in the world and an extraordinary aquatic world, has become my territory.

This is where I drew my inspiration and developed my style, always in close connection with the ocean.

This inspiration lead me to create two books that I conceived, shot, designed, and published: Surface in 2018 and Turbulences in 2021, and today Aqua Obscura.

I had the honor of winning the Red Bull Illume - Overall Winner in 2019 and being named Ocean Photographer of the Year in 2022.

Today, I continue my photographic quest on the element of water between Europe and the Pacific!


2013 - RED BULL ILLUME Semi Finalist : Illumination Category.

2014 - ISPO AWARD Gold Winner : Photo Category

2016 - SALT AWARD Winner : Water category

2016 - RED BULL ILLUME Finalist : Masterpiece Category

2016 - MONSTER CHILDREN Photo competition Winner : Action Category

2017 - CANON Editor's Choice Contest Winner : Sports + Nature Categories

2017 - WSSF - Olympus Pro Photographer Show Down : People's Choice Winner

2018 - Publication de mon premier livre SURFACE

2018 - Publication de BEAUTE MER aux éditions National Geographic

2019 - RED BULL ILLUME / Over all Winner & Category Winner : Energy

2021 - Whalebone Photo contest, Finalist : Water + Weather categories

2021 - Paris Sport Photo, Finalist : Sport Extremes + Portfolio categories

2021 - Ocean Photography Award : Adventure photographer of the year

2021 - Red Bull Illume Semi-Finalist

2021 - Publication de mon deuxième livre TURBULENCES

2022 - Ocean Photographer of the year (Ocean Photography Awards), overall winner

2023 - Red Bull Illume Finalist