A massive swell slammed into the coast from California to Alaska on December 28th, bringing with it monster waves of epic proportions. Swell heights off the west coast of Vancouver Island, where these were shot, reached 20 feet/6 meters. It’s such a raw and powerful experience to witness this explosive energy up close. The roars resulting from millions of litres of water moving with an incomprehensible amount of force are ferocious. They’re balanced by the delicate wisps and hiss of spray that kiss the air. It can hard to grasp the scale of the waves in these pictures but the biggest could have swallowed a small house. See the seagulls in some shots for scale

PSA: Always respect the forces of Mother Nature and keep yourself safe if venturing out in extreme conditions. Having experience with specific locations is important for better predicting safe shooting/viewing zones. Watch out for rogue waves, rolling logs, and flying debris. Never turn your back on the ocean and always have an escape plan. Then enjoy the show!