A passion for the sea

I am never happier than when I am immersed in it, swimming with it, carried by it, photographing it. If I could I would protect it but I can’t do that alone. The sheer size of the earth’s population pollutes it, endangering the one natural source that keeps this planet alive.

So I try and capture a microcosm of its moods, its beauty, its quiet calm or its ferocity. I do so in Brighton, England where I swim year round.  I return to the sea every day, and every day, for the duration of the swim, there is nothing else. Particularly when the water is cold but in the summer months swimming away from the shore and losing yourself in each stroke or stopping to watch the sun rise, focusing on the current or the swell and timing your exit; there is no feeling quite like it.

There is a sadness that runs in my family. I find myself with it occasionally and there is no doubt that losing myself in the sea for a while helps to keep it at bay. My sister struggled with it and, tragically, lost. I wonder whether, after all else had failed, the power of the sea, or the Swiss lakes where she lived, may have helped her. My eldest daughter struggles with it at times and when it comes it can be horribly dark. We spent the first lockdown winter swimming together in an attempt to lift the darkness and I like to think that it helped her cope during those challenging times.

A couple of shots from that time were recognised by the Outdoor Swimming Society, one winning their annual photography competition and another making their website’s cover page for a month. I post daily shots on Instagram, as @what_eye_sea, and there are some who have commented on how they can make a positive difference to their mood or motivate them to take the plunge. I love capturing the sea but it makes it even more rewarding to know that there are people who I have never met who find something in my photography. It is incredibly humbling. Perhaps it helps a little in helping people take better care of our most precious element.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my site and perhaps browse through my collection of seascapes.

“Your photographs are beautiful. They increase the pull of the sea on me, make me want to head straight down and jump in every time!”

“I love the movement that comes through your photography”

Judges’ comments on my winning entry in the The Outdoor Swimming Society competition:

“The pier, an architectural drawing, a vision of the future, an echo of the past? It seems to play an overture as the sea curtain is preparing to reveal the first act.”

“I love the contrast between the stark, industrial-like pier and the smooth water. The light, composition and subject were just lovely, and provided a moment of calm.”