Thomas Meurot’s Chilling Expedition: A Photographer’s Journey Through Iceland’s Cold-Water Surfing Wonders

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Discovering that he’d secured the Sony World Photography Awards in the Sports category came as a surprise to French photographer Thomas Meurot – mainly because he had entirely overlooked that he had entered.

While biking through Scandinavia with his partner, Thomas had completely set the competition aside. That is until one pivotal day when he received a call informing him of his victory. “I was so thrilled when I learned about it, especially since I had no recollection of entering. It was such a powerful moment. It was fantastic.”

The project that led to his accolade emerged from Kald Sòl (Cold Sun), which captures the spirit of cold-water surfing in Iceland. In January 2023, Meurot alongside a group of mostly amateur surfers embarked on a fortnight-long journey, pursuing waves in frigid conditions. His remarkable monochrome photographs from this excursion serve as an incredible homage to the untamed, rugged allure of Iceland, and the zeal of the surfers confronting the elements.

Euronews Culture: When did you first begin your photography journey?

Thomas Meurot: I genuinely began photography during my early years, perhaps around 8 or 10 years old. My parents would gift me disposable cameras when I traveled or during school excursions. I enjoyed snapping photos of various things to present to them. When I turned 18, I relocated to Australia, taking a camera with me. There, I met individuals who informed me that I could actually earn from photography. I began shooting manually and was inspired by photographer Chris Burkard and his surf photography. I thought, “Wow, that’s what I want to do.” This was in 2014, and ever since, I’ve been progressing step by step.

What was your first camera?

The earliest camera I recall was a compact yellow Canon point-and-shoot. My first genuine professional camera was a Sony A6000, which my friend Jacob sold to me in 2017.

Share more about your project Kald Sòl (Cold Sun).

Initially, Kald Sòl was conceived as a documentary film, currently available on Amazon Prime. It narrates the story of a group of friends who established a cold-water surfing cooperative. A photographer, also named Thomas, reached out to me expressing their desire to have another photographer accompany them on an expedition they had organized to Iceland. The aim was to introduce non-professional surfers. In surf films, particularly from Iceland, it primarily features professional surfers, so I shared with Thomas my aspiration to create a surfing film.

We invited one professional surfer, Samuel Redon, while the remainder of the group consisted of amateurs. The adventure initiated like this: we traveled there and dedicated two weeks solely to pursuing waves in January 2023. We encountered exceptional luck with ample swell and surf. As a photographer, I couldn’t help but capture moments despite my primary focus being the film. I ended up with a substantial collection of images and was uncertain of how to utilize them. Eventually, I crafted black-and-white edits of the images, which I truly appreciated.

What motivated you to participate in the Sony World Photography Awards?

Last year, I was cycling for four months across Scandinavia with my girlfriend. I received an email from the Sony World Photography Awards indicating that only a few days remained to enter, so I thought, “Why not?” To be frank, I forgot about my entry. Later, I received a call announcing my win. The experience was completely eclipsed from my mind as I was cycling daily and absorbing all these experiences. Winning the Sports category was phenomenal. It’s a substantial competition and I was filled with excitement upon learning this, especially since I didn’t recall registering. It was a profoundly intense moment. It was extraordinary.

What insights did you gain about cold-water surfing?

I’ve always aspired to surf in a colder region. I hail from Provence, quite near the French Alps. I’ve been skiing since childhood, and later I turned to surfing. Observing Chris Burkard and his endeavors around cold-water surfing, I thought, “This must be the ultimate experience.” Therefore, arriving there was remarkable. We had an incredible time surfing since we were fortunate to catch lots of waves. Luck was on our side with the swells. Although it was freezing, that zeal kept us outside. Even when shivering, the desire to remain outdoors, film the surfers, and catch some waves persisted.

It was an incredibly rewarding experience. I aim to pursue more adventures like this. You genuinely feel invigorated. It was truly incredible. I cherish the cold. I appreciate the solitude and the challenge of facing the elements.

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What was the most difficult aspect of the journey?

One of the most technically challenging aspects was acquiring my Sony A74 just before the expedition commenced. Prior to this, I had consistently used a different camera, thus switching to a new one without adequate familiarity posed a significant challenge. I missed a few shots in the beginning. Fortunately, nothing catastrophic occurred, but it caused me some stress. However, we had a fantastic team and excellent collaboration, which facilitated our success.

The most challenging aspect in Iceland was the unpredictability of the weather. A brief period of favorable weather could suddenly shift into a snowstorm. Navigating through snowstorms was certainly difficult.

Why did you opt for black and white in your photographs?

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I chose to render some of my images in black and white because even under sunny conditions in Iceland, the air remains quite chilly. The monochrome style effectively conveyed that sensation of coldness. It evoked the brisk atmosphere. In Iceland, during this season, the sun barely dips below the horizon, and it feels akin to dawn throughout the day. It presents breathtaking visuals.

colours, yet I aimed for individuals to concentrate more on the texture of Iceland instead of the hues. One can observe the texture in the mountains, the waves, and the surfers. I didn’t wish for all the emphasis to be directed towards the stunning colors.

Do you notice any parallels between the craft of surfing and photography itself?

Oh that’s an excellent inquiry… They are two distinctly different forms of art, but some surfers, while riding their boards, create genuine art. They trace lines on the waves. There’s certainly a link between surfers and photographers. The better you comprehend your surfer’s technique, the more effortlessly you can capture the perfect shot. When you’re photographing in the water, mutual trust is essential. For me, when I snap a photo, I prefer to showcase a substantial portion of the landscape and only a minor segment of the surfer to highlight the scale. Thus, knowing your surfer allows you to frame the shot more effectively.

Additionally, in surfing, one must exercise patience and select the appropriate wave, which entails waiting for the ideal moment. This parallels photography – you must await the right instant to seize the shot.

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In what ways can surfing impart life lessons that transcend the sport?

It instills humility. Primarily with the ocean. To be completely frank, I’m not particularly fond of the atmosphere of surf culture today. There is too much conflict. Too much ego with individuals asserting “this is my wave!”. However, our cold water surfing community cherishes the aspect of sharing. We don’t prioritize finding “the perfect wave”; we simply wish to enjoy ourselves.