We’re featuring this series as one of our favorite entries to the previous #FotoRoomOPEN call. (By the way, we’re now accepting submissions for a new #FotoRoomOPEN edition: the winner will get a three-month mentorship with London-based Wren Agency. Submit your work today).

A Swim into the Wild by 38 year-old Welsh photographer Mark Griffiths is a series of images “about the benefits of swimming in open natural flowing water. Many of the swimmers I photographed suffered with mental illness, PTSD or physical injuries and found that the open water helped them deal with these issues. The brain releases endorphins after a swim in cold water and is proven to boost mood and moral and the flow of water can suppress painful ailments such as arthritis or injury. I traveled throughout the U.K. delving deep into the personalities of wild swimmers to find out their reasons for swimming outdoors, and was amazed by the physical and psychological benefits of wild swimming. It’s also one of the fastest growing adventure sports in the U.K.”

A Swim into the Wild by 38 year-old Welsh photographer Mark Griffiths is a series of images “about the benefits of swimming in open natural flowing water. Many of the swimmers I photographed suffered with mental illness, PTSD or physical injuries and found that the open water helped them deal with these issues. The brain releases endorphins after a swim in cold water and is proven to boost mood and moral and the flow of water can suppress painful ailments such as arthritis or injury. I traveled throughout the U.K. delving deep into the personalities of wild swimmers to find out their reasons for swimming outdoors, and was amazed by the physical and psychological benefits of wild swimming. It’s also one of the fastest growing adventure sports in the U.K.“

The project was inspired by Mark’s own passion for the sea: “I have been surfing for about 25 years and have always had a fond love for the sea and anything water based. I had heard about a group of ladies that swam at the local beach year round in just bathers and thought it would be interesting to photograph them as I could somewhat relate to the joy they felt after a swim. After meeting them I found out that there were groups throughout the country doing the same thing and thought it would make a great project.”

A Swim into the Wild mixes staged portraits and documentary shots. “I wanted to cover all aspects of swimming but also really connect with the swimmers on an intimate level photographically. I decided to juxtapose their portraits with varying shots of them in action and metaphors that related to personal issues they have overcome through wild swimming. Some of the pictures in the series are pretty non descriptive but work with the overall narrative, such as a lone flower emerging from the dark shadow into the sunny light which was captured after photographing a lady who had recently lost her mother. I thought these little nuances give the story a deeper meaning and portrayed wild swimming as something other than just your typical adventure sport.”

Mark hopes any swimmer viewing the work “will relate to the images and the story that I am trying to convey. I hope they will see that for most, open water swimming is a way of life and has helped so many people overcome the problems in their lives.”

Mark’s three words for photography are:
Creativity. Desire. Commitment.