Into the Unknown: Big Wave Photographer Sachi Cunningham

Most people fear the unknown. Big wave photographer Sachi Cunningham runs directly towards it. The San Francisco-based filmmaker, multimedia journalist, mother and professor, has built an award-winning career exploring topics as diverse as the ocean environment and international conflict for Frontline, LA Times, PBS and more. It was in recent years, however, that she revisited her most fervent passion—water photography. Inspired by friends like Bianca Valenti and other hard charging female surfers, she began going out in the big waves of her backyard—the gnarly waters of Ocean Beach. Equipped with fins, her camera, incredible stamina and plenty of determination, Cunningham has made it her mission to capture what it looks like to push the ocean's limits. Check out the photo essay and read the full interview theusualmontauk/journal.

Ocean Beach, San Francisco, 2015

Lewis Samuels braves the surf alone on the first big swell of the season

Kelly Slater at Pe'ahi, Hawaii

Pipeline line up

Manny Resano, Mavericks, 2015

Bianca Valenti

Bianca Valenti

Bianca Valenti

Bianca Valenti

João De Macedo

Johnny Bowling, Ocean Beach

Secret spot! SF

Mike Seible

Mavericks, 2015

Bianca Valenti, Ocean Beach