Hawaiian photographer Clark Little is famous for his stunning images from inside some of the most powerful and dangerous waves in the world.
The artist, who hails from the north shore of Oahu, has spent the last 15 years documenting the waves that crash violently on the shoreline, those monstrous waves that tunnel into the Pacific and make the sand rumble, with no reef or more water than the brake.
Little published a book, “The Art of Waves,” chronicling his ocean adventures. It contains more than 150 of her favorite images.
“The waves breaking on the shore are so beautiful and so scary at the same time,” said Little. “I used to surf them…so I feel comfortable, I like the bottom of the sand, I think it has more of the beautiful aqua colors.”
Surfing great Kelly Slater affectionately calls Little “Turbo,” as he was famous for driving fast and taking chances when the two met decades ago, long before Slater became one of the most recognizable surfers.
Clark Little takes a selfie while photographing waves on Oahu’s North Shore near Haleiwa, Hawaii.
(Clark Little/AP)
“Clark is so connected to what he sees. He seems so natural to her,” said Slater, who wrote the book’s foreword. “It just occurred to him to capture it one day.”
Big wave surfer Laird Hamilton said Little’s photography gives him the opportunity to examine the beauty and complexity of the ocean in a way that is impossible when surfing.
“Her books capture the things in the ocean that make us believe there are higher powers,” said Hamilton.
In this undated photo titled “Sun Curl,” the sun breaks through a wave on Oahu’s north shore near Haleiwa, Hawaii. The image appears in the book “The Art of Waves” by photographer Clark Little.
(Clark Little/AP)
When he was younger, Little would surf waves that break on the shore, something few dare to do. Little said that even he has gotten into trouble.
“One day I’m trying to swim to get the shot … then one wave comes, two waves, three waves,” Little said. “I run out of air and five more waves come in, I mightn’t swim in. I mightn’t get out because he was pulling me. It’s huge and it’s just chaos.”
On Wednesday, on World Oceans Day, an annual event to support conservation and raise awareness of human impact on the sea, many other enthusiasts like Little showed their respect for the waves.
