Salty Interview : Ocean photographer Ben Thouard

Meeting with Ben Thouard, ocean photographer and surfing enthusiast living in Tahiti. He shares with us his daily life in the islands, between photo shoots in the water, publishing his books, home design and surfing sessions around the world.

Where are you from and how did you discover Tahiti?

I come from Toulon in the south-east of France, I started by doing windsurfing photos in Maui, Hawaii. Then work took me to Tahiti and I fell in love with the place, I've never left. It was 13 years ago.

What inspires your art?

I have always been fascinated by the element of water, the movement of fluids, the mixture of water and air and I think this is what inspires all my photos. That's also why I started to shoot underwater under the waves.

What were your most memorable trips?

Definitely my first trip to Tahiti which marked my life and forged the rest. But there were also many destinations and variety in my travels. I had the chance to visit the most beautiful places for surfing but also to go and meet the Papuan tribes or to see the polar bears and sleep on the ice in Baffin land.

What are your favorite spots around the world?

Tahiti and the Tuamotus archipelago, far from everything, isolated...

Do you have any special training to shoot with the best athletes in the water?

I swim a lot, I shoot regularly to keep in good shape. I also surf whenever I can! It's my first passion!

Can you tell us about your books?

I started working on book projects 6/8 years ago, I released SURFACE, my first self-published book, and then BEAUTE MER with National Geographic. And I'm currently working on another one and I think the list will continue. It's really a part of my job that I enjoy.

What is your style in decoration and design?

I like beautiful objects, I pay a lot of attention to the finishing touches. And I like things that are clean.

What are your favorite decorating inspirations and pieces?

In fact, I am a very manual person and I like to build and work with different materials (wood, metal, resin...). I also designed the house I live in, so there is a certain coherence in my home that reflects my personality, a lot of big spaces and organized things.

What does Salty Home mean to you?

It is the combination of this passion for the ocean and design. This concern to bring the ocean into our homes while keeping elegance and beautiful objects. It fits my personality and my interior quite well.

And finally, what are your next projects?

I am currently working on my next book which will be released in November 2021. So I'm in the starting blocks, the project is finished but the com work is coming and remains essential!