Waves from below

Rough reefs and rogue currents. The ocean is not so forgiving to humans trying to catch the perfect wave or the perfect picture. As Australian underwater photographer and avid surfer Mark Tipple can attest, the sea has a life of its own. The ceaseless staccato of waves on the Cook Islands are no exception. Within the first hour of a 10-day underwater photo shoot, the relentless thrashing waves badly injured Tipple's underwater subject and friend Mike during a brutal test of "man vs. ocean." "I could see blood trailing in the water behind him. I thought, oh man it's only day one and he is already saying ‘I'm done.’ What am I going to do now?" Tipple said. So, he changed his subject. And what came out of it was “Mare Vida,” a gallery of raw, beautiful photos — of the ocean itself. Growing up in Southern Australia with a surfboard attached to his feet, Tipple feels a certain connection with the ocean, describing it as “the only relationship that is ongoing. It is both comfortable and scary at the same time.” Tipple turned his passion into a profession: from chasing waves to shooting them. From surf photography to open-water swims, he covered it all, but grew thirsty for something different than what others were doing in his industry. Continue reading at CNN.com

#surf #surfing #surfphotography #underwaterphotography #ocean #marevida #marktipple #australia #sea