Working as a commercial sports photographer I found myself wrapped up in a necessity for speed and working to tight deadlines. I started to long for something more meaningful that I could spend time developing my understanding of a subject but also explore a subject matter of interest. I have always had a fascination with athletes both professional and amateur and what drives their passion for their chosen sport, I had covered just about everything except swimming. I found myself drawn to open water swimming having spotted people swimming in rivers near by, an entirely alien concept that I found a curiosity towards the interaction between the swimmers and their chosen environment.
Open water has its inherent dangers but is also immensely beneficial to human wellbeing, looking deeper into this I came across the work of author Roger Deakin and his exploits exploring wild water swimming, its history and the benefits to people that undertake this pastime. Deakin made his way to the River Itchen due to its waters famed for their clarity, citing the work of journalist William Cobbett and his observations of the region in Rural Rides he swam the waters of the Itchen. Collectively Deakin and Cobbett illustrate the unique beauty of this English Chalk stream, once a popular bathing spot until a new indoor complex was built in the 1960’s. Now purpose built bathing spots along the river have largely disappeared and the clarity of the rivers waters are only embraced by the abundance of fishermen in pursuit of its resident trout and grayling.
Two local Ice Swimmers remain part of a small community that still enter the waters of the Itchen for the purposes of training for ice swimming events, Rory and Kate specifically chose this river due to its consistent cool water emerging from its source in the South Downs. This Vale of Itchen is a visual metaphor in response to the works of Deakin and Cobbett reflecting on their experiences of this river, entering the water at the same spot as Deakin the project seeks to relive his experience some 15 years later through Rory and Kate. Swimming in the Itchen they become a part of the enviroment, a unique experience to humans where it can be both a battle but a peaceful partnership. Fighting the current upstream working double hard against the river as the Spring rainfall forces its way out the aquifer in the South Downs heading south to the sea until, a change of tact. Turning at a bend swimming effortlessly with the flow to the shallow waters where it’s possible to exit the River.
This Vale of Itchen explores the unique interaction between people and nature in a modern society where we’re largely disconnect from our surroundings, reflecting and paying homage to Roger Deakin and his pursuit of wild swimming across the British Isles.
