Ted Grambeau is an internationally recognised surf and ocean photographer with a career spanning over four decades.

Working across commercial, editorial and fine art, his imagery is defined by a deep understanding of light, movement and timing, often created in challenging and unpredictable environments. His work has been commissioned globally, exhibited internationally and recognised through some of the world’s leading photographic awards.

Most Recent Awards

Australian Surfing Awards — Surf Photo of the Year, 2022
Red Bull Illume, 2023 — Winner, Energy Category
Red Bull Illume, 2023 — Finalist, Masterpiece Category
Surf Photo of the Year, 2024 — Top 10 Finalist

Hamdan International Photography Award (HIPA), 2025
1st Place, Black & White Division (“Power”)

Awarded for a black-and-white photograph capturing a wave detonating over the reef at Teahupoʻo, recognised for its intensity, timing and composition.

Winning image, a striking black-and-white photograph of a monstrous wave detonating over the shallow reef at Teahupoʻo by Ted Grambeau has won the Hamdan International Photography Award (HIPA).

What an honour to be awarded 1st Place in the Black & White category of the 2025 Hamdan International Photography Award (HIPA), under the theme “Power.” The winning image captures a wave detonating over the shallow reef at Teahupoʻo, one of the heaviest and most unpredictable environments I’ve worked in. My sincere thanks to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the HIPA team for the opportunity to be part of such a prestigious international award.

HIPA 2025 — Black & White Division, 1st Place

Selected Clients & Collaborations

Apple · Rip Curl · Billabong · Speedo · Quiksilver · Patagonia · Nikon · Red Bull · BMW · Corona · Zoggs · Manfrotto · Phase One · National Geographic · Smithsonian

Selected Exhibitions

The Surfer and the Mermaid — Australia (multiple venues)
Bleach Festival — Gold Coast
SEALEVEL @ Pipeline — Hawaii
Aframe Gallery — California
Head On Photo Festival — Sydney
Dust Temple — Gold Coast
Flotsam Surf Film & Photography Exhibition — Gold Coast

Books & Publications

Adventures in Light — 240-page monograph (2018)
Masters of Surf Photography — The Surfer’s Journal
The Surfer and the Mermaid — collaborative publication.

Ted’s work has been widely published across international surf, lifestyle and editorial titles over four decades, including cover features and long form photo essays.

Film & Expedition Work

Unstoppable — Bethany Hamilton (2018)
Point Break — Tahiti production (2015)
Long-term collaboration with Rip Curl on landmark surf films and expeditions, including:
The Search, Tip 2 Tip, Seven Ghosts and other defining projects spanning 1991–2016.

Selected Projects & Credits

A curated selection of commercial and editorial projects across surf, travel + adventure:

Surfing Australia HPC (Olympic Team)
Rip Curl — The Search (1991–2016)
Rip Curl — Tip 2 Tip, Seven Ghosts, The Art of the Search
Rip Curl — Mick Fanning ‘Missing’
Rip Curl — Feral Kingdom
Rip Curl — Searching for Tom Curren
Billabong — The Odyssey
Quiksilver — The Crossing
BMW — South America campaign
Patagonia — global projects
Somewhere : 42 North Iceland
Shelter, Beyond Boundaries…

Industry Roles & Partnerships

AquaTech — Ambassador & collaborator
Manfrotto — Ambassador & collaborator
Guest speaker and presenter for Nikon, Apple and AquaTech across industry events and workshops.

Workshops & Mentoring

Ted has led specialised surf, ocean and lifestyle photography workshops in locations including Bali, alongside private mentoring for experienced photographers seeking to refine their craft in challenging environments.

Global Locations

Ted’s work has taken him to remote and diverse locations worldwide, including:

Tahiti · Iceland · Namibia · Madagascar · Maldives · Mentawai Islands · Galápagos · Fiji · Morocco · South Africa · Indonesia · Hawaii · California · Alaska · Chile · Norway · Portugal · and beyond.

Press & Media

Ted’s work continues to be featured across international photography platforms, editorial publications and media outlets, most recently following his award-winning image at the Hamdan International Photography Award.

Contact & Representation

For commercial enquiries, licensing, print acquisitions or editorial projects, please visit the Contact page → Contact