It rained on and off all night and there was some banging of our neighbor's lines on the dock, which means not much sleep for crew who are alert to such things. Thankfully, our guests all slept well. Even better, we woke to sunshine. Cool temps, but the sun warmed our souls.

Simon and the ladies made for the breakwater in the early light, and I followed silently as I knew it would make for a nice picture both before and after I made myself known.

A little sidebar here on my photographic process for anyone who might be interested in such things (If not, scroll on down to the next picture to stick to trip details!). I have been in enough harbor towns to know that a breakwater is something our guests will climb on to see the water on the other side. This means an opportunity for a stark silhouette with nothing but sky behind them, as I will be on the dock below. It’s a rare opportunity to have sky, or negative space, as backdrop, and it’s a great relief to the audience eye to have an uncomplicated image to rest on in a sea of layered, action packed swimming frames. I will often look for these restful images to meter the visual pacing of a collection of photographs, or a blog post.

When photographing an experience like this, the circumstances govern my options and methods. When we are swimming, I have a goPro tucked into the back of my bathing suit at all times. Sometimes I tow a second goPro in a big acrylic dome behind me as well. In the water, everything is moving constantly - the swimmers, me, the water itself. And so I am making split second decisions about angles and framing. I am often anticipating the movements of our swimmers in order to catch things - an arm stroke, an expression after seeing something cool - so knowing an area and the person I am photographing is immensely important. In these situations, I’m letting the camera do all the work with regard to exposure. I definitely push it with stark contrasts like light bodies in dark water, split images (half underwater and half above), and shooting directly into the sun, which I love to do. Most, if not all of these images require some post production work in Adobe Lightroom to manage shadows and highlights that the camera simply cannot balance. In situations where I have the luxury of time and space to make conscious choices about exposure, framing and composition, I’ll use either a Nikon DSLR or a Sony mirrorless to often make multiple captures with various focal points and exposures so that I have options when I am editing later. The two frames above are an example of this. In the first, I exposed to have my people in silhouette, in the second, I exposed so that they can each be seen. In the latter, I pulled up some shadows in post production to preserve some of the color in the sky. I generally shoot 600-1000 frames on an average day on SwimVacation, and I do all of my editing and post production work immediately after each swim. To let it go a day would mean it might never get done at all.

If you have made it to this point in this post, I thank you for indulging my ramblings as a working, swimming photographer. It is a labor of love and it makes a challenging swim like the one we did this morning (read on!), even more challenging, in fantastic and creative ways that keep me very open and present to what arises. It is also intimate. People in water are raw and without posturing - they are vulnerable and uniquely themselves in a way they are not on land. To guide them in this state is an honor. To witness it with a camera, a privilege. I try to photograph and edit the stories of our guests with the truth, compassion and integrity that they deserve.

So! We left the calm waters of the harbor with a “we will decide after we see what we are being given” sort of attitude. We had a few ideas of where we might like to swim, but the final decision would depend on wind and swell. As we approached Georgio Island, we could see white spray careening off its sheer walls. We ruled out some of the features we usually visit at the beginning of this swim, but decided to go for a truncated version of our usual route. We would do a live drop and pick up - meaning the boat is not at anchor, engines on but props not spinning when we are near the stern. The operation requires a lot of order, concentration and alertness from crew and swimmers.

Georgios Island

(39.1346788, 23.8022282)

https://maps.app.goo.gl/VMmcHG3zmy13enMX8?g_st=ic

Lisa said “Go Go Go!” and one at a time we leapt into the froth, immediately swimming for the beach. Massive waves were breaking on the small stones. Simon led the swimmers up onto land while I hovered just beyond the break. The gang gathered themselves and re-entered the water. We skipped the long stone tunnel we usually swim through – the swell was exploding against its ceiling. We swam around instead and admired the power and thundering within from safe outside the walls. Onward! We rounded another corner and headed down a long straightway against a sheer wall. Large rollers pushed us from behind. Small fish darted around below as if it was nothing at all to swim in this big water. Simon led the way with Allyson, Katharine and Dominique, with Mandy and I not far behind.

Mandy had had doubts before we jumped in. I gave her a squeeze and reminded her that we would never bring someone on a swim we don’t know for sure they can handle. As guides, it’s our job to lead our guests to what is possible and keep them safe in the process. As we rounded the last corner into the shelter of the island, she had a moving moment of satisfaction with what she had just done. We hugged and continued on to the Last Bay. We were the first ones there as Simon and co. had made a detour into a cave, and I let Mandy know that this particular bay was new territory for SwimVacation, and she was the first guest to ever be there. We enjoyed our “first to” status with an explore into a fish filled grotto and a few celebratory pics, then welcomed the rest of the group as they joined us. When we had all had enough, we made for the boat which Richie and Lou Lou had been holding expertly nearby. We approached in two groups, followed directions and the entire operation was executed on pointe. Skipper motored us away from the island and we all shared the elation of a wild swim well swum.

We had a rolly passage back to Skopelos and our guests found quiet places to sit and relax through the ride. Tucked into the calm of Stafilos Bay (one of our fav spots), we devoured lunch and most wandered off for a well earned nap.

An afternoon swim awaits – bright sun takes the edge off of the still cool temps, and a flat pretty swim seems like just the thing for our second splash today.

Stafilos Bay, Skopelos

(39.0844482, 23.7479447)

https://maps.app.goo.gl/v6FnQDt7YrcNMA7j6

Everyone ambled out of a solid nap at about 3 or so, and we suited up and jumped in for a beautiful tour of this bay at about 4. Here’s my big take away from this afternoon’s swim:

When we started with this group of mostly pool swimmers less than a week ago, they all swam far from the rough edges of this Aegean Sea, they looked mostly ahead and rarely down. They were mostly interested in swimming fast, which is fine, but both Simon and I felt compelled to show them the riches that await the swimmer who stops, looks down, meanders among the rocks, spends some time beneath the surface. Today, these ladies charged toward every rock, every cave, every chaotic splashy nook and cranny with great smiles and excitement and wondering if they could swim under or through or around. I stopped them at one point, all of us being pushed around among the rocks, and I told them how proud I am that they have all found more than a pace clock in swimming. They have found exploration, fun, and themselves.

No tour of this bay would be complete without a visit to The Cave that Barfs Rainbows. Thank goodness it was in fact barfing rainbows today! This was Simon’s find last week, and it was a delight to show this week’s swimmers the magical mystical rainbow generating cave.

At the end of the swim a few wanted some solid exercise and so they did laps along the shore. A few of us were ready for cocktails in the sun. Everyone took a little quiet time to just sit and be or read or feel the warmth of this place before dinner. Lisa filled our bellies once again with an amazing dinner and dessert - hold on to your swim caps, it’s crepe night.

We chatted into the dark and now everyone is in bed. I am reveling in the transformation I have seen in these four swimmers this week. They came here strong, and now they are adventurous and open to whatever comes their way.

One more day tomorrow. I’d say they are ready to make the most of it.

Kali Nikta,

Heather

Thursday: They are All In.

Connect