In 2017, on a warm summer afternoon, I jumped into the water at Bronte Beach, where I live, to cool off from the heat. I was having a blast catching waves for hours when, out of nowhere, the wind picked up and the ocean turned wild, with powerful swells rolling in. Not long after, the Bronte Lifesavers closed the beach.
The sudden change created perfect yet intense conditions for surfers. I grabbed my camera and hurried to nearby Tamarama Beach, just a few hundred metres from Bronte.
Tamarama is a small beach nestled between two majestic headlands. Its compact size and easterly aspect often mean it receives a bigger swell than Bronte, making it a favourite among surfers—but also one of the most dangerous patrolled beaches in New South Wales for swimmers.
When I arrived, the waves were pumping, and surfers were getting completely wiped out by the sheer force of the ocean.
I spent the rest of the afternoon watching and photographing the ocean at its fiercest.
The Hunting Eagle is a reminder of how small we are when nature decides to show its strength.