Pe'ahi Canonball
In an attempt to avoid an even worse big wave beating, Rafael Tapia hits the eject button
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Biography
Aaron is an award-winning photographer and filmmaker who specializes in action-sports, landscapes and ocean art. He was born in Atlanta, Ga and currently resides in Maui, Hawaii. Aaron has a B.F.A in Film & Television from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD, 2010), and is a PADI Dive Master as well as an F.I.I. Level 1 free diver. He loves to play with light and movement, as well as capture special moods, moments and environments. Aaron is eco-minded, and wants his art to evoke emotion. He hopes to visually transport the viewer, as well as promote positive awareness of the ocean
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Awards
He has been nominated into in the prestigious WSL Red Bull Big Wave Awards Finals 7 years in a row (2015-22). In 2018 and 2020, he was the most nominated photographer in the entire competition. In 2022, his photo won for the women’s biggest paddle (Annie Reickert). He earned 6 separate nominees spanning all three photo categories in 2018, and in 2020, he saw a personal best 8 nominations. In 2018, Aaron received his first magazine cover with Free Surf Magazine. He actively competes with his artwork, and has collectively received 29 honorable mentions, as well as taking a 2nd place award in the 2020 International Photography Awards (IPA) extreme-sports category, and 3rd place in the 2021 IPA in the Nature - Trees category. Most recently, Aaron won 2nd place in events in the 2025 Refocus Color Photo Awards while simultaneously taking 1st place people’s choice.
