This was my second time shooting photos at Jaws. I found out late in the week that I could move a work commitment and decided to see if I could take photos at the contest. All logistics aside, I began my morning at the media area overlooking the Pe’ahi Challenge. I followed a recommendation to go to the Kahului Harbor and jumped on a boat. I was thrilled to be shooting for the first WSL Big Wave Tour Women’s Championship, with my ticket into the lineup courtesy of Bianca Valenti (I caddied for her while shooting photos from her board). After swimming back, I began taking photos from the water. Both men and women competitors were testing their abilities as they battled strong winds down the faces of massive waves. The sets slowed down at certain points throughout the day, but the sun was brilliant. Its light gave rainbow coloring to the spray off each passing wave, making patience between sets easy. I shot until the end of the event. On the ride back the strongest emotion expressed by the women was excitement; excitement for their opportunity to compete, to train harder, and chase the next purple blob.
