Michelle Hartnett, Ocean meets rocks (SEASCAPE 2025)

I captured this image from the Boulder Beach Headland, at Skennars Head, NSW, during the Winter of 2024 when huge swells were creating spectacular surf conditions along our local coastline. As I was photographing the chaotic movement of the sea, I started to follow this surfer, through my viewfinder, picking his way along the rocks, trying to find a point to jump in. A huge wave exploded in front of him and I was able to capture the bloom of sea spray, sand and salt water flying in all directions. How I would have loved to know what was going through his head, standing there in the impact zone! Thankfully, he surfed off unscathed. His presence in this roiling seascape, as he faced off with a detonating wave, only added to the awe I was feeling, watching moment after moment of ocean meeting rocks.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.