Copy of Bio

Nikon TV Commercial
Nikon Campaign "I Am Different" - TV Commercial
The shorebreak is my comfort zone. I absolutely love it. It's always different. The light, the colors, the water, the sand and what happens to it. And to be there to capture it and share it with the world... what a dream.
— Clark Little


Clark Little surfing Waimea Shorebreak in the 1990's
photo: Tom Servais

Award-winning photographer Clark Little was born in Napa, California in 1968. Two years later, a move to the North Shore of Oahu (Hawaii) dramatically changed his future. In the 1980’s and 1990’s he made his name as a pioneer of surfing at the Waimea Bay shorebreak. Clark had a unique talent for taking off on hopeless closeout shorebreak waves and surviving in one piece.

In 2007, Clark discovered his ability and passion to capture the extraordinary beauty of the shorebreak when his wife wanted a picture of the ocean to decorate the bedroom wall. With the confidence of an experienced surfer, Clark went out and bought a waterproof camera setup, jumped in the ocean, and started snapping away, recording the beauty and power of Hawaiian waves. "Clark’s view" is a unique and often dangerous perspective of waves from the inside out, captured in photos for all to enjoy from the safety of dry land.

In a short time, Clark has gained worldwide recognition for his North Shore shorebreak wave photography with exhibitions in Japan, Canada, Brazil, Spain and throughout the US along with appearances on television shows including CBS Evening News, Good Morning America, Today, Inside Edition, the Discovery Channel, ABC World News Now, France 2, NHK and Asahi TV programs in Japan.

Clark Little shooting in shorebreak standing on sandClark’s work has been exhibited at the Smithsonian Museum, Alden B. Dow Museum, Science Museum of Virginia, Museum of Contemporary Art Barcelona (Spain), Parco Logos Gallery (Tokyo, Japan), Gallery X (Tokyo, Japan), Heritage Maritime Canada (Montreal, Canada), The Four Seasons and The Ritz-Carlton Resorts, and published in National Geographic, The New York Times, LIFE, Nikon World, Paris Match, Outdoor Japan, Sierra, Geo, Nature’s Best Photography, Rangefinder, The Surfer’s Journal among others. Commercial clients include Apple, Nike, Nikon, Facebook, Hewlett-Packard (HP), Toyota, Anheuser Busch, Starbucks Coffee, Whole Foods Markets, Panerai Watches, Hilton Hotels, Lockheed Martin, Verizon, and others.


Clark Little Ocean Photography Award at Smithsonian Museum

Clark Little awarded the Oceans Photography Award at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC (May 2011)

In November 2009, Clark published his 182-page debut art book, The Shorebreak Art of Clark Little. In January 2011, Clark opened the Clark Little Gallery Haleiwa in his hometown of Haleiwa, Hawaii just down the road from many of the North Shore beaches featured in his photography. In February 2014, Clark published his second book Shorebreak, a 160-page coffee table book featuring wave and ocean photography from the North Shore of Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Big Island, California, Japan and French Polynesia. In 2014, Clark also published a book in Japan "Waves of North Shore" (Parco Publishing). Most recently in 2016, the film SHOREBREAK: The Clark Little Story was released.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Awards include the prestigious Ocean Photography Award from Nature’s Best Photography presented at the Smithsonian Museum in May, 2011. Two award winning images were on exhibit for 6 months at Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC from April - September 2011 and again in 2015.

  • 2016 (June) - SHOREBREAK - Audience Award, Maui Film Festival
  • 2015/2016 - Nikon Ambassador
  • 2015 - Gold Ink Awards, Pewter Medal (runner-up) in the Calendar division for the 2016 Turtle Calendar.
  • 2011 (May) - Oceans Photography Award - Nature’s Best Photography: Windland Smith Rice International Awards presented at the Smithsonian Museum, Washington DC.
  • 2011 (May) - Highly Honored Photographer: Endangered Species Award - Nature’s Best Photography: Windland Smith Rice International Awards presented at the Smithsonian Museum, Washington DC.
  • 2011 The Great Outdoors PDN: Beaches, Island and Underwater Category - Winner
  • 2011 Maggie Award (Western Publishing Association): Best Series of Editorial Photographs - View from the Vortex (Sierra Magazine)
  • 2010 Pele Award for Photography (American Advertising Federation Hawaii): Breaking Point (Kahala Magazine)
  • 2009 Photograph of the Year, People's Choice Award : Geo Magazine

Clark Little shooting large wave

Clark Little running towards large wave on shore

Media

One of the most visible and respected water photographers in the world. Clark Little has taken the closeout shorebreak by his home and turned it into high art seen around the world.
— Keith Hamm, ESPN
Award-winning master of aquatic photography.
— Roy Furchgott, New York Times
A vision of the natural world few ever see for themselves.
— Steven Hawk, Sierra
The result is an inside look at the stunning beauty of waves.
— Chip Reid, CBS Evening News
Extraordinary Art
LIFE
Clark Little shows Hawaii's waves in all their glory
ABC News
Imagery that will change your shoreline perspective for life.
Island Magazine
These are visions almost none of us might ever have witnessed without this exceptional collection.
— Lou Jackobs, Jr., Rangefinder Magazine
The result is a whole new perspective.
Men's Journal
The dramatic, heart-pounding pictures of crashing surf captured by photographer Clark Little will immediately transport you to the wave-soaked beaches of Hawaii.
Elle Magazine

Clark Little on television

Clark Little on television

Clark Little magazine cover shots

Clark Little magazine cover shots

Clark Little magazine cover shots

Clark Little magazine cover shots

Clark Little magazine featured articles

Clark Little magazine featured articles

Licensing & Corporate Clients

• American Savings Bank
• Apple
• Facebook
• Hewlett-Packard (HP)
• Hurley
• NIKE
• Nikon
• Smithsonian Museum
• Starbucks Coffee
• Toyota
• Whole Foods Markets

• Air New Zealand
• Anheuser-Busch InBev
• Bay Photo
• Career Builder
• Castle Hospital
• Coloplast
• Conservation International
• Crazy Shirts
• Davidoff (Cool Water)
• Dragon Alliance Eyewear
• Epson

• Hawaii Five-O (TV Show)
• Hawaii Pacific Health
• Hawaii State Federal Credit Union
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Hilton Hotels
• Hyatt Hotels
• Lockheed Martin
• Magnum PI (TV Show)
• McDonalds Japan
• National Health Federation
• National Geographic (France)

• Pacific Honda
• Parco Japan
• Panerai Watches
• PBS Hawaii
• Rash Wetsuits Japan
• Sector 9 Skateboards
• Slowtide
• Under Armour
• Verizon
• Volkswagen (VW)
• XS Energy Drink

Nikon Campaign

Apple Retina Display campaign

Nike / Hurley project

American Savings Bank project

Toyota project

Dragon Sunglasses

Verizon US Open Booth design

Bay Photo signage and advertisement

Parco Japan exhibitions, books and calendars

Panerai Watches project

More Clark Little licensing projects

More Clark Little licensing projects

Exhibitions (Solo & Group)

• Smithsonian Museum, Washington DC
• Heritage Maritime Canada, Montreal
• Museum of Contemporary Art Barcelona, Spain (MOCBA)
• Parco Gallery X, Tokyo
• Parco Logos Gallery, Tokyo
• Aperture Gallery, New York
• Milk Gallery, New York

• Hilton Salt Lake City Center, Utah
• Photo Center NW, Seattle
• Bienal Pavilion, Sao Paulo, Brazil
• Alden B Dow Museum, Michigan
• Studio One Gallery, Munich, Germany
• Toyota City Showcase, Tokyo
• Science Museum of Virginia

Smithsonian Museum exhibitions

Parco Japan exhibitions

Heritage Maritime Canada outdoor exhibition

W Hotel San Diego exhibition

Installations

Whole Foods Market Kahala installation

Facebook Health Center installations

UC San Diego Health installations

Kona Community Hospital installations

Starbucks Coffee Waikiki installation

Starbucks Coffee Haleiwa installation

American Savings Bank installation

Coronado Shores installation

Pacific Honda installation

Bay Photo headquarters installation

Apple Store installation

PGW Headquarters installation

Ritz Carlton Laguna Nigel installations

Embassy Suites Kapolei installations