ARPS Applied and Portraiture 2021

Vindication Swim is the second feature film from young director Elliott Hasler. It portrays Mercedes Gleitze, from her childhood introduction to swimming to her battle to be recognised as the first British woman to swim the English Channel in 1927. I was invited to photograph the making of the film and produce images for publicity. My role was to show the filming process. This involved developing a rapport with the director and actors, and observing Elliott’s strong vision coming to life through his script and camerawork. I also made candid portraits of the lead actors and extras. Dealing with whatever conditions were scripted without artificial lighting or getting in the way called for creativity and good reactions, especially on a moving boat. I soon realised that I had a body of work that suited me, as it combined my life-long interest in people with quick thinking photography.