Incredible photos capture WA's big wave surfers

WA's big waves and the brave souls who surf them are the subject of a new exhibition, Frontier Surfing.

A work by photographer Jamie Scott at 'Frontier Surfing', an exhibition that tracks WAs early surfing history at Fremantle Arts Centre. (Jamie Scott) Source: Jamie Scott

There is a famous, six-metre high photograph of West Australian surfer Damon Eastaugh riding a massive wave that greets people at a new exhibition in Fremantle.

The 2007 wave won him a $20,000 prize, was estimated to be well above a scary 50 feet and is regarded as one of the biggest waves ever ridden in Australia.

It is the WA south-west coast's waves and the camaraderie of the big wave surfers who are brave or crazy enough to ride them that the exhibition, Frontier Surfing, pays tribute to.

A work by photographer Russell Ord titled 'Out There On The Perimeter' which will be featured in 'Frontier Surfing'. (Russell Ord) Source: Russell Ord

"In those environments if you get it wrong, you are either stupid or dead," said surfing legend Ian "Kanga" Cairns, in a documentary that is part of the show.

WA surfer and co-curator Damon Hurst wants the exhibition about the state's big wave scene, the philosophy of surfers and its history over 50 years to appeal to non-surfers and get people thinking about their lives.

"What I am trying to tap into metaphorically is we have all got our own frontier and boundary, our own sense of fear and what's risky - when do we have to let go?" said Mr Hurst, who prefers surfing smaller waves.

The show is not about crowded beaches such as Cottesloe or Bondi, but the remote locations near Margaret River with scary waves that are 25km out to sea and you have to be towed to get to.

The exhibition starts in 1971 when Margaret River was not a tourist destination but a road to a bauxite mine and moves on to eventually ask what it means to be a surfer then compared to in 2016 and how the surfer's views change as they age.

A work by photogrpaher John Witzig titled 'Nigel Coates and Murray Smith at Smiths' (John Witzig) Source: John Witzig

"When you hear the big wave surfers talk they are very scientific and calculated in their approach and measurement of risk and opportunity, pretty precise," Mr Hurst said.

"These guys who spent their lifetimes out to sea in extreme waves are very reverential about that, respectful of the ocean and its power."

The exhibition features work from legendary surf photographer John Witzig for Tracks magazine and big wave photographers Jamie Scott and Russell Ord, with text by author Tim Winton along with historically significant boards.

The exhibition runs at the Fremantle Arts Centre until May 22.