WHY WE SWIM

This body of work was inspired by the people I met in various swimming spots in London who swim in cold water through the winter. A diverse set of people come to the water in search of something, often to soothe their souls. They might be coming to terms with a new physical diagnosis a mental health crisis, coping with a loss, or for dealing with the strains of modern life and in particular, it seems, midlife. This photo essay focuses on the desire to heal through immersion in nature, through cold water, and its powerful effect on mental health, the by product of which is a community that are almost evangelical in their devotion to the activity. I photographed and interviewed people at the West Reservoir, Hampstead Ladies’ pond, and Parliament Hill Lido, asking them why they swim.