The wave photo:
An image captured in 2019, during a world class surf competition. That day, the waves were so massive but that's not enough to scare Tahitians.

When you grow up as a surfer in Tahiti, getting ready to surf Teahupo'o is what it is all about. You can even call it an initiation rite.

Pictured here is a man's life-changing moment, surfing through the wave of his dreams.

The whale photo:
A mother and her newborn calf resting by the reef. As the mother helped the calf breath through the surface, this photograph was taken.

A moment Matt will forever cherish. He described it as "when everything else seemed irrelevant but this instance."

The edit:
An image joining two unique moments in the ocean. One of adrenaline and motion displayed by the wave and surfer and another of calmness and serenity portrayed by the whales underwater. This resulted in a photo that is calming yet suspenseful.

First collaboration between Mattwalch and Kaiyhun