American photographer Clark Little gives nonsurfers a chance to see what they're missing in a series of pictures he is showing at the "Clark Little Photo Exhibition" in Tokyo.

The photographs of waves in Hawaii, breaking close to the North Shore area of Oahu Island, are part of a collection of shorebreak photos. Little, an expert surfer, says a shorebreak is a wave that breaks right on the beach or very close to the shore.

"The beauty of the North Shore shorebreak is the size of the wave and the water clarity, combined with beautiful backdrops of white sand beaches, sunsets, palm trees and puffy clouds," Little told The Japan Times via e-mail. "To get that great shot, all of nature's elements have to come together — waves, wind, tide, clouds, reflection, water clarity."

The exhibition features 50 images that capture from inside the wave the moment when waves the size of a three-story house break.

Little's photos have been published in "National Geographic," and this will be his first solo art exhibition here.

"The waves that you see in my pictures from the North Shore of Hawaii originate from the same Pacific storms that brings the winter snow and rains to Japan," he said. "After a heavy snowfall in your neighborhood, know that the next week I am experiencing that same energy in the shape of a big wave. The deep connection that I feel with the ocean, connects me right to Japan and its people."

"Clark Little Photo Exhibition" takes place at the Logos Gallery in Parco Part 1 in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, until Dec. 25 (10 a.m. to 9 p.m. [to 5 p.m. on Dec. 25]; admission is free). Little will be at the venue on Dec. 15 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. to meet and chat with visitors. For more information, visit www.parco-art.com.