( CNN ) -- Dangling from the top of a 20 meter mast while bouncing along the open waves would test even the most hardened sailor 's stomach . If the vertigo does n't rattle you , the mast lurching at a 45 degree angle will . Then there 's the real possibility the whole boat could capsize under the strain -- plunging you deep under water with it . But for maritime photographer Kos Evans -- who pioneered the hazardous art of masthead photography and bagged some of sailing 's greatest images in the process -- it 's all part of the day-job . The extraordinary pictures , taken from masts up to 10 storeys-high , capture sailors the size of ants scuttling around on sleek white decks , surrounded by churning ocean and enormous rippling sails . Looking back at a career that now spans over three decades , Evans recalls the reaction to her first foray into masthead photography in the early 1980s . `` The pictures were incredible because no one had taken a photo from that angle before , '' she said . `` A lot of guys would n't do it , so there was admiration and respect for the fact I was trying something new . The media completely pounced on it . '' An exhilarating oeuvre of images followed , and Evans has since been shortlisted for the prestigious British Sports Photography Awards , British Nautical Awards and exhibited at London 's Getty Gallery . With a new book , set to be published in January , chronicling in vivid detail the work that has made her a household name in sailing circles , it 's funny to think that it all began as little more than a dare . After graduating from the London College of Printing with a degree in photography , Evans landed a dream job taking pictures aboard British yacht Victory , during the 1982 America 's Cup . It was a joke by the crew that first prompted her to shimmy up the 24 meter mast . `` They thought it would be quite funny to send me up the mast to get me out of their hair , as I 'd been photographing them day-in-day-out for a few weeks , '' Evans writes in the upcoming book . Little did they realize the young woman was well up to the challenge , having been raised in a sailing family and yachting since the age of three . `` Once at the top I started shooting , but my feet kept swinging into frame and I had to find ways of wrapping my legs around the mast so I could virtually hang upside down and not fall out of the bosun 's chair . '' The result was a remarkable image of the vibrant white , blue and yellow sail billowing around the seemingly tiny deck , later used as the poster for Victory 's America 's Cup campaign . `` Kos is known for her spectacular shots -- whether they be from the top of the mast of a racing yacht or at incredible angles within the water . She brings the colors to life and manages to capture yachts and yachting in the right moment , '' said Jamie Edmiston , managing director at international superyacht charter company Edmiston . `` In an industry that was largely dominated by men she carved out a highly respected position and reputation , '' she added . Capturing such striking images comes with its dangers , as Evans discovered in the early 1990s when the yacht she was photographing capsized while she was at the top of its 18 meter mast . She had been presenting a television show when the skipper lost control of the yacht . `` We were down in seconds , '' said Evans . `` Fortunately one of the crew had cut the rope [ attaching me to the mast ] so I was able to pull myself away . To this day I always carry a knife with me . '' When not otherwise clambering up the world 's tallest sailing ships , the award-winning photographer can be found hanging from a helicopter in a harness traveling 160 kilometers per-hour in hot pursuit of Powerboat World Champion competitors . Not content with aerial acrobatics , the ballsy Brit has also carved a name for herself as an accomplished underwater photographer , diving six meters below the surface to capture yachts silently slicing through the waves in the annual Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup . It 's this volatile environment that keeps Evans coming back again and again . `` I love the color and drama of sailing -- the human endurance in unpredictable conditions . '' `` I 've never seen myself as a daredevil , my drive has always been trying to find a different image , something that has n't been done before . '' When asked if she believed she was indeed the pioneer of masthead photography , the answer is straightforward : `` Absolutely . 100 % . '' Judging by her plethora of dizzying images , it would be a tall task finding another photographer who could claim that hard-earned title .
Sailing photographer John Evans pioneered innovative masthead genre . Climbs 100 meter masts in hundreds of breathtaking photographs . Also took stunning underwater photographs of massive sailing yachts . New book chronicles influential 20 year career , including some close calls .