How did they get that crazy shot? Like this…

What's the secret behind an amazing action photo? Often, it's that the photographer is doing much of the same difficult stuff that the athlete is doing – while lugging camera equipment and focusing (literally) on getting the job done, and watching their own butt.
We asked some of the best in the biz to show us the time they were in front of the lens – selfies included.

Swimming with crocodiles

It's not easy to get this close to a croc© Octavio Aburto

Octavio Aburto is a photographer in Cabo Pulmo, Mexico, with a mission: ocean conservancy. His way of doing it? Raising awareness with awe-inspiring, fear-inducing pictures of very scary animals – like this crocodile below.

Yes, this guy can bite© Octavio Aburto

With no real space between him and the croc, Aburto's only choice was to stay still – very still. It worked – but fortunately he has able to move enough to snap this toothy pic. Check out Aburto's Facebook page and his website and throw them a like – every bit helps when it comes to saving the oceans.

Hanging out on ice

Christian Pondella shoots climber Will Gadd© Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content Pool

Adventure photographer Christian Pondella likes to hang out in some weird places – for instance, on the side of a half-frozen waterfall in BC, Canada, as he captures Will Gadd's epic ascent of Helmcken Falls.
Christian himself comments: “It’s these unique opportunities that allow you to supply a perspective that the general public will not normally get to experience in their lives – a glimpse into a potentially life-threatening world. Coincidentally, it’s also something that makes you feel alive, as the forces of Mother Nature are working for you and could very easily work against you. The actual photography needs to be second nature since it’s critical to constantly focus on your surroundings.”

Will Gadd climbing at Helmcken Falls in BC, Canada© Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content Pool

That wasn't the only thing he shot Gadd doing this year – he also was on hand to document the climb of Niagara Falls, the first time anyone has ever attempted an ice route on Niagara, and a project that brought Gadd national attention in mainstream news.

Under the waves

Ben Thouard lines up his shot under the surface© Phil Gallagher/Aquatech

Ben Thouard likes to swim – that's why he lives in Tahiti. He also likes to take pictures of surfing – another good reason to live in Tahiti. Sure, swimming under Southern Pacific swells (and above hard, sharp reef) is a little risky, but when you nail the shot, it's worth it.

Shadows on the wave© Ben Thouard

Scoring a shot like this takes skill, knowledge, patience – and the ability to hold your breath and stay calm under water.

It also takes specialised equipment to protect your photography gear – which sometimes fails. Last year, a rogue wave caught him unaware on a jetski during an emergency situation, ruining over $20,000 of photo equipment. Canon was nice enough to help him out with replacing it.
Of course, under water isn't the only place Ben takes photos...

Shooting while steering a paraglider

Getting ready to shoot above Tahiti© Ben Thouard

Ben's not only comfortable under the sea – he gets above it, too, in the powered paraglider he uses to take aerial pictures of his home spot of Tahiti.

Raimana von Bastolaer catches a Tahitian left© Ben Thouard

This shot of surfer Raimana von Bastolaer catching a Tahitian left came directly from his paraglider. Well, if he crashes, at least he's landing in water!

Chasing lava in the Arctic Cirlce

Olivier Grunewald risking life, limb and camera © Olivier Grunewald

Photographer Olivier Grunewald has made a career out of taking pictures in amazing place – particularly volcanoes.

This shot was snapped at the Eyjafjöll volcano, above the Arctic Circle in Iceland, when it erupted back in 2010.

This is why Olivier goes where he goes© Olivier Grunewald

Getting this close to moving lava allowed Grunewald to get images like the one above. Dig it? You'll also probably love his images of the Aurora Borealis.

Climbing by night

Ray Demski on position and on point© Ray Demski

Ray Demski has been climbing and shooting photos of it for most of his life. His status as one of the world's best climbing photographers gives him the opportunity to pull off complicated shoots like Norwegian Ice – where he hauled a not insignificant amount of lighting onto a wall to create an image otherwise impossible at night.

Worth it? You decide© Ray Demski

The extra effort with lighting allowed Demski to catch the climber in one single moment, rather than using multiple images to fill in light from the sky and proper exposure of the action right in front of him.

Hanging out in France

Hold it… stay right there…© Mathis Dumas

Alex Buisse calls the Chamonix Valley home, and for good reason – it regularly allows him to take pictures of the sports he enjoys. Here, he hangs over a ledge to shoot climber Jeff Mercier dry-tooling a new route in Argentíere.

Dry-tooling isn't always as easy as it looks© Alex Buisse