Clark Little is an expert surf photographer from Hawaii, recognized for his putting and dramatic photos of ocean waves and highly effective shore breaks.
His gorgeous photos have been featured in worldwide publications and have earned him acclaim from surfers and artwork lovers alike.
Little is especially recognized for his distinctive perspective, which includes getting as shut as attainable to the waves, typically utilizing specialised gear.
In addition to exhibiting his pictures in galleries and publishing a number of books, Little has additionally labored on industrial initiatives and has been featured in numerous media retailers.
He is taken into account a pioneer in wave photography and has impressed many different photographers to seize the ocean’s magnificence from distinctive angles.
Clark Little started taking pictures of waves when he least anticipated however rapidly gained recognition for his work.
Here are some fascinating info about the man who’s not afraid of getting pounded by large waves and adjusted surf photography nearly accidentally.
Photography Was in the Blood
Clark Little was born in Napa, California, on November 9, 1968. His household moved to Hawaii when he was simply two years outdated.
Interestingly, his father was a photography instructor for 30 years – first at Punahou School after which at Leeward Community College.
Clark began bodyboarding, browsing, bodysurfing, and taking part in with waves from a really early age, alongside brother Brock Little, who went on to develop into an achieved massive wave surfer.
At 22, Clark embraced a metropolis county job at a botanical backyard in Oahu.
He supervised and oversaw 27 acres of native and tropical vegetation from throughout the world. Little cherished it as a result of “I’m a Nature freak.”
One day, his spouse introduced residence the picture of a wave; she wished it featured on the bed room wall.
But Little determined he was going to shoot a greater one. What he did not know was that the sudden occasion would lead him to a radical profession shift.
Wave Photography as a Full-Time Job
In 2007, after fastidiously interested by whether or not he ought to take the threat, Little resigned from his 17-year place at the botanical backyard to dedicate his working time 100% to wave photography.
“It was the finest determination I ever made. I obtained precisely what I wished from it and extra,” the lensman as soon as revealed.
“If I awoke and this was my dream, I might be like, ‘Wow! That was cool! I want it was actual…’ But it’s!”
Clark began with a disposable digicam after which by no means stopped updating his gear.
“At the time, not many individuals have been entering into massive shorebreak waves and going inside and capturing the uncooked great thing about the tube.”
The photographs instantly traveled the world, and so did Clark Little.
“I did not have a recipe or a plan. And I needed to study the digicam.”
The surf photographer says he feels he is aware of when he obtained a unprecedented shot – even earlier than arriving residence and checking it on the laptop to see if all the things is in focus.
But Little additionally adopted a methodic method to his skilled exercise. So, he at all times checks the surf forecast earlier than making his strategy to the seaside for a capturing session.
He desires to know the swell path, the wind, and the cleanliness of the water to get the good photograph in the supreme spot.
The California-born surfer believes that Hawaii has the good situations for his sort of labor because of the climate patterns, the solar, the stunning white seashores, and the coconut bushes.
He confesses he likes to get thrown and tossed round, pounded, and slammed into the sand to get the good shot. It’s a part of the recreation.
New Ventures
In 2011, the lensman opened Clark Little Gallery in Haleiwa, on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii.
The 1,000-square-foot area was designed by Hawaii fashionista Deb Mascia and is located in the city’s heart, simply minutes away from the seashores the place Clark captures most of his highly effective photos.
In his first 4 years as an expert photographer, Clark gained nationwide and worldwide recognition for his work with appearances on a number of nationwide tv exhibits, together with:
Good Morning America;
Inside Edition;
The Today Show;
ABC World News Now;
Clark’s work has been featured in lots of publications, together with National Geographic, Nikon World, Paris Match, La Vie, Sierra, Geo, Nature’s Best Photography, PhotoLife, Rangefinder, Stern-View, Surfer’s Journal, Surfer Magazine, Surfer’s Path, Hana Hou (Hawaiian Airlines) amongst others.
He additionally did fee industrial work for corporations like Apple, Facebook, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, Nike, Starbucks, Toyota, Verizon, and so on.
Little as soon as admitted he was irritated about the copycats who tried to imitate his work.
But later, his mindset modified. “If they’re as passionate as me and having enjoyable doing it, I’m all for it.”
Today, he sells prints and all types of merchandising, together with attire, that includes his world-renowned shorebreak wave photographs.
In 2016, movie director Peter King shot “Shorebreak: The Clark Little Story.” The documentary was showcased in a number of movie festivals throughout the globe.
Throughout his profession, the aquatic photographer launched three books:
The Shorebreak Art of Clark Little (2009);
Clark Little Shorebreak (2014);
Clark Little: The Art of Waves (2022);
Skills and Fear
The seek for the good image takes time and endurance. The Hawaiian photographer generally spends 5 or 6 hours in the ocean.
He grew to become a grasp of analyzing backwash, the sand-sucking-up patterns, the sundown timings, and the place to place, even in the most excessive situations.
“If you are afraid, you are not getting the shot.”
“I’m fairly comfy with 8-10 toes. Fifteen-foot faces are the level the place I’m like, ‘I do not know if I ought to exit. Is it price it?'”
“I consider my household. I do know I would get that good shot, however I do not wish to go to the hospital.”
“There are instances when I’ve been caught out in the ocean and questioning, ‘Oh my gosh, am I going to make it in? I am unable to breathe anymore. Here comes one other wave.'”
“Sometimes it’s so good I simply soar in, after which I get caught in that state of affairs.”
“I attempt to rise up as quickly as I can, however generally you may get held below for between 5, ten, and generally 15 seconds.”
“The worst factor is staying below for 2 waves – you at all times wish to pop up earlier than the subsequent wave comes.”
Clark Little had just a few minor accidents and near-drowning episodes.
And earlier than getting moist, Little at all times checks his gear to verify his settings are proper.
He began his profession with a Canon digicam, however he’s now capturing with Nikon {hardware}.
Awards and Recognition
Clark Little’s work earned him a number of awards and recognitions, together with:
2019: tenth Most Popular Photographer in the World by XXL PIX;
2017: Bud Browne Surf Film Award for “Shorebreak” at Waimea Ocean Film Festival;
2016: Audience Award for “Shorebreak” at Maui Film Festival;
2015: Pewter Medal at Gold Ink Awards;
2011: Oceans Photography Award at Nature’s Best Photography: Windland Smith Rice International Awards (Smithsonian Museum);
2011: Endangered Species Award at Nature’s Best Photography: Windland Smith Rice International Awards (Smithsonian Museum);
2011: Beaches, Island and Underwater Award (The Great Outdoors in PDN);
2011: Maggie Award (Western Publishing Association) for Best Series of Editorial Photographs in View from the Vortex (Sierra Magazine);
2010: Pele Award for Photography (American Advertising Federation Hawaii) in Breaking Point (Kahala Magazine);
2009: Photograph of the Year at People’s Choice Award (Geo Magazine);
To study extra about Clark Little, go to clarklittlephotography.com and comply with him on Instagram (@clarklittle) and Facebook (@clarklittlephotography).
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