A new photography exhibition entitled Cold Water Swimmers by David Bird has been installed at the Art Space gallery in the atrium at Royal Bournemouth Hospital.
Running until 12 May, the project includes work that David produced while on the MA Photography course at Arts University Bournemouth (AUB).
“As a photographer based in Dorset, my work revolves around positive and progressive events on England’s south coast," says David. “The south coast beaches have seen a shift in how they are used in recent years. Once mainly places for relaxation and gentle exercise, they have now become hubs for a new pastime: cold water swimming.
“Swimming groups, like Beyond the Blue in Poole, have built close-knit, vibrant communities. Members meet year-round, getting out of bed before sunrise or driving for over an hour, just to take the plunge together. In the winter, swimmers may only stay in the water for a few minutes before time together warming up with a cup of tea. On birthdays, they even grab cakes as a group after their swims.”
David’s connection to AUB runs deep, starting back in the early '90s when he came to study for his HND in Photography at, what was then called, the Bournemouth and Poole College of Art and Design.
Following the HND, David spent a very successful three decades in industry, from regional news, capturing the likes of Princess Diana for the Liverpool Echo, to high-stakes commercial work in London.
He then made the move to a farm in the New Forest with his family and found himself at a career crossroads.
Looking to upskill and modernise his craft to include video, David looked back to where he’d got his initial qualifications back in the '90s. Thanks to his 30 years in the business and encouraged by academics at the University, David bypassed an undergraduate degree and dived straight into the MA Photography course aged 52.
He says, “I always turned down video jobs; I just didn't have the confidence. The MA gave me that knowledge and confidence.”
The result of this academic return is this poignant documentary project centred on a group of cold-water swimmers in Poole who take the plunge into the sea every single day at sunrise.
For David, a self-described outsider to the cold water swimming world, the project required a shift from the ‘fly-in, fly-out’ mentality of newspaper photojournalism to a slow, five-month immersion.
“The MA allowed me to do a really deep dive," he explains. "These women became my muses. Amazonian, wonderful people battling through the waves in their standard swimwear – no wetsuits in sight!”
The project captures before and after portraits, documenting the physical and emotional transformation that occurs in the freezing water. David eventually found himself in the water with them, gimbal in hand, losing equipment to the waves but gaining a new perspective on health and happiness.
David’s now a definite convert, swearing by a good cold shock for the soul. “It doesn’t just make you healthier,” he says, “it makes you happier.”
For many, the idea of returning to university in their 50s is a daunting prospect. David reflects on his own return to education, saying, “It’s built a second family. It’s reassuring to know that for anyone who wants to do their MA, any decade you’re in, it’s okay.
“It was a definite sink or swim moment” David says, “and fortunately, I swam!”
Cold Water Swimmers by David Bird, is installed in the Art Space gallery in the atrium at Royal Bournemouth Hospital and runs until 12 May.
As part of this project, and showcasing his new videography skills, David also created a short film, Beyond the Blue, which you can watch on YouTube.
