Born on March 14, 1986, it is on the coast of Toulon (South of France) that Benjamin THOUARD grew up.
With his father, sailing enthusiast, he progess in a maritime world. Rocked by waves and wind,
he receives education in close connection with nature and especially the sea.
Coached by his older brothers, he quickly falls in love with surfing. But the Mediterranean sea
offers more wind than waves and so his passion for watersports naturally takes him into windsurfing.
At the age of 15, he discovers photography and developps his artistics feelings as his taste for photograhy.
Sure thing, photography will be his job !
He then gets in touch with Marseille photographer Bernard Biancotto and becomes his assistant for two years
during which they work on shooting boats, windsurfing and fashion…
After one year spent at the « beaux-arts » of Toulon, he leaves his native town for Paris.
During his studies at ICART photo (Paris), he gets obsessed with his main goal : being able to combine
photography and watersports.
To achieve his dream, Hawaï is the best place on earth … And it is at the age of 19 that he lands
on the island of Maui, the Meque windsurfing.
Contacts are quickly made and the first publication come. He then starts shooting from the water,
with a custom made water housing that built from his Toulon workshop.
For over three years, he travels the world alongside professionals in search of photogenic landscapes
and never seen before spots in the Caribbean, Hawaii or Polynesia ... He then broadens his scope to other sports
such as surfing, kitesurfing or SUP.
At 22, with his friend, professional windsurfer, Baptiste Gossein, he decides in Tahiti,
a place he fell in love with, to settle down.
Teahupoo’s famous wave becomes his favorite work place where he sharpens his swimming techniques
in waves of consequence making wide angles watershot his trademark.
Indeed, noticed for his fisheye watershots that require a risk-taking for both the photographer and the athlete,
his photographs stand out from usual watersports pictures.
Mesmerized by the many colors of his new home he explores new ways of shooting by flying on his powered plaraglider.
His ambition and curiosity takes him constantly to new horizons. His thirst for discovering leads him around the world
to meet new cultures never losing sight of his two passions: photography and the ocean.
Official Photographer :
- Défi Wind 2006, 2007, 2008 .
- Fort Boyard Windsurf Challenge 2007
- Windsurf Challenge Maroc 2008
- Windsurf Challenge Madagascar 2008
- Windsurf Challenge Tahiti 2009
- The Windsurfing Movie 2009
- Waterman League Teahupoo 2009
- Nespresso Cup 2011
Press :
L’Equipe mag, VSD, Bateaux, Skippers, Elle, Fit For Fun, Surf, Transworld, Surfing Life,
Surf Session, Surf Europe, Beach Borther, Wind, Planche mag, Windsport, Boards, Funboard,
Windsurfing, SUP Journal, Kiteworld, Kitesurf, Kiteboarder …
Advertising :
Oxbow, Billabong, Quiksilver, Roxy, Rip Curl, Dakine, Mystic, Zodiac, Mistral, Naish, Starboard,
Bic Sport, F2, Gun Sails, Quatro, C4, Takoon, Wainman, Tropical Blend, Primo Beer, le GIE tourisme de Tahiti …
Publishing :
- THE WAVE par Susan Casey dans les éditions Random House, Droemersche Verlagsanstalt, Thorndike Press, Anchor Books.
- SURF par les éditions White Star
- SURF PHYSIK par Christophe Mulquin, éditions Pimientos .
