“Portugal, February 2016. The weather forecast finally announces a red alert for a big storm with strong winds and huge waves from the North Atlantic for the weekend.

It promises to be the storm of the year and many roads are closed to prevent possible disasters. This must be seen and photographed.

I decide to go north to Nazaré, a village north of Lisbon famous for its big waves due to its  subterranean canyon a massive geological fissure which creates havoc in the right conditions. When awakened by the North Atlantic storms this tear in the earths crust forces the water violently upwards into waves that reach up to 30 meters in height.

The winds, however, this time, are very strong. It is hard to stand up, and the situation is extremely dangerous. The only way to do this is to have my back pressed up firmly against the wall of the lighthouse. When I had to move, I crawled on all fours. This was both exhilarating and frightening at the same time.

I lean up against the wall and I feel like I am directing a living W. Turner painting.

The frightening power of these mountains of water, the deafening noise and light so Turneresque, it makes for a totally hypnotic scene – pure ecstasy.”