TAHI T I HOW I GOT THE SHOT


PHOTOGRAPHER AND PEARL FARMER JOSH HUMBERT DISCUSSES HOW HE CAPTURED TAHITI ’S SURFERS FOR OUR JAN/FEB ISSUE


Tell us about this image. This is Matahi Drollet, a 25-year-old Tahitian surfer riding one of the world’s scariest waves, Tahiti’s Teahupo’o. Widely regarded as one of the best surfers in the area, he’s the same age as my son, and is the little brother of my good friend Manoa Drollet, who I spearfish with. Matahi is the same shy and humble person he was as a 10-year-old. It’s been amazing to watch him grow into the man he is today.


How did you achieve the shot? It was one of those moments when the conditions magically come together. I usually shoot early in the morning because the light is good and the wind often offshore, blowing the waves hollow and photogenic. On this occasion, however, it was the very end of the day. I tied up my boat, swam out and immediately got a


sequence of Ethan Ewing, a standout Australian pro. The very next wave gave me this shot of Matahi. It was taken with a Sony A7III camera fitted with a 12mm Rokinon fisheye lens, which allowed me to shoot a glorious 180 degrees — perfect for capturing hollow waves like this.


What were the challenges at play? The ‘catch rate’ with fisheyes is very low because you’re shooting blind rather than looking into the viewfinder. It’s more like spearfishing than photography, so you have to be precise, ensuring the horizon is level and pre-visualising where the surfer is going to sit in the frame. They’re going to be flying straight at you at around 30 miles an hour, so you have seconds to shoot before diving out of the way. Usually, the best shots are taken when you’re already underwater, with the camera the only thing still in the air.


How important is developing good relationships with your subjects? Sharing ‘the tube’ with a surfer is the holy grail for surf photographers, but it requires a certain synergy. A surfer can easily hit a photographer with their board. Conversely, a photographer can also injure a surfer by not getting their camera out of the way. In order to sync with your subject matter, it’s helpful to form good relationships, whether that’s done through being chatty with strangers or becoming part of the community. As the president of the now- dormant Teahupo’o Surf Club, it’s been fun to watch so many of the kids I knew tackle one of the world’s most feared waves.


View the full shoot and interview online at nationalgeographic.com/travel @joshhumbert


I SUBMIT YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY FOR CONSIDERATION AT PHOTOGRAPHY@NATGEOTRAVELLER.CO.UK 178 NATIONALGEOGRAPHIC.COM/TRAVEL


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