Leroy Bellet is not your average twenty year old; he’s revolutionising the surfing world with his iconic photography. Earlier this year the first-year university student from Ulladulla on the South Coast of New South Wales stunned the photography world with his pictures
Leroy Bellet is not your average twenty year old; he’s revolutionising the surfing world with his iconic photography. Earlier this year the first-year university student from Ulladulla on the South Coast of New South Wales stunned the photography world with his pictures featuring a double tow-in into steep, massive waves in Tahiti
The shots that came from this are just awe-inspiring, gracing the covers of magazines across the globe and lighting up social-media and Leroy’s world with opportunities
Leroy first got into surfing photography at the age of twelve in a bid to explain to his parents his love of the barrel, and that special relationship with the ocean and now the photography has surpassed his passion for surfing.
It takes you on the rollercoaster with him filming in Australia with the likes of Scott’ Whip’ Dennis and Red Bull Cape Fear champion Russell Bierke, using a $100,000 phantom camera, which breaks during a nasty wipeout in the waves.
To the tropical waves of Teahupo’o in Tahiti with Raimana Van Bastolaer, Michel Bourez, Craig Anderson and Matahi Drollet, the trailing Leroy seals a series of stunning images with the one of Bourez approaching sunset gracing the cover of World Surfing magazines picture special edition.
You really pick up on his burgeoning passion throughout the journey, “I was an OK surfer and even tried competitions, but they weren’t my thing. I just really wanted to document tubes. I always thought the big POV wide-angel barrel shot was the ultimate. I’ve definitely got to a point where I don’t think about the surfing side of things anymore.” he said.
Effectively, he is dragged into the big waves by a jet ski with a surfer in front of him and captures the images knowing in his position that he will eventually get hit by the wave, the hope being not to get hurt on the reef below. He said: “The wipeout is really intense and fierce. You’re just hoping you’re not going to hit the sharp reef. You can feel it slice.”
This article was originally published in Issue 51 of gcmag.
