Photo / Video News & Reviews
Exhibition: Above, below and beyond by freediving photographic artist Janeanne Gilchrist
Janeanne Gilchrist is a photographic artist and image-maker. She was born and brought up in Edinburgh and graduated from Napier University in 1996 with a BA (Honours) in photography and film.
The sea and the self: these are territories Janeanne Gilchrist explores and merges seductively in this exhibition of intricately composed and infinitely ambiguous sub-aquatic images.
She forages for objects in the depths – a tangle of fishing net, a singed seaman’s sou’wester, discarded fish gut, a decomposing plastic bag – the thoughtlessly discarded cast-offs of fishermen and of man. She searches out subjects – the spawning seaweed, the mesmerizing alien glow of a jellyfish, the stone washed bones of a migratory bird.
Structuralism
The work is made to provoke, and it will be criticized for turning rubbish into art however what it aims to do is raise the debate further about the state of all our waterways across our land and beyond.
Having dived around Scotland for the past 10 years she is trying to share an experience of what she has found and how to communicate this in a more powerful way. Receiving the J.D Ferguson Art Award has given her the opportunity to explore and create this body of work to highlight environmental issues.
A big problem is that by the time this waste is washing up on the shore, the damage is already done and we are only dealing with the fall out. As Janeanne says:
“What we’re doing — cleaning up our own mess — addresses just a symptom of the problem, not the problem itself”.
The work explores subconscious emotional memories and otherworldly fables and folklore. It also features found items that had a place, a function, a use, in one world, which are now abandoned, adrift and discarded, in another world in which they take on an ethereal distorted temporal beauty, dissolving and breaking down into the aquatic environment.
Anthropomorphism
The process of developing this work has come through observation and years of devoted water time, evolving study and exploration.
Janeanne has been lucky enough to find a partner, a soul mate, who was responsible for taking her on her first ever dive expedition to Egypt and diving Ras Mohammed. Those first few dives of breathing in air from a regulator underwater and trusting the heavy equipment kept her safe, and was her first step into another dimension to explore a remarkable water world.
Back home in Scotland, the need to wear dry suits and even more weight always made her feel awkward and anxious, checking dials and opening valves distracts from the whole experience and reason for being there. Her quest was to be in the moment, in the water, to lose herself. To focus on just herself and her surroundings. To meditate, breathe and become one.
So she learnt to freedive…
“To free dive is the most amazing sensation. Mastering your fear and hanging silently suspended in the blue/green of the sea, in gin- clear water, in glass-like conditions, is a spiritual experience.”
Janeanne combines her environmental underwater working practices to develop a new body of work based upon the intersection between scientific illustration, still life painting and technological advancements, experimenting with botanical imagery and the iconic visuals of fantasy to capturing organic and non-organic matter.
Janeanne seeks to discover moments, textures and stories. She fragments, manipulates and then reinvents the image into a new entity which resembles the original, but is, in fact, entirely contemporary. She rebuilds these new pieces of work, swaying between reality and surrealism in a moving composition.
“This work can’t be reproduced. It is completely unique. Capturing these moments while free diving in challenging conditions in the waters around Scotland isn’t easy. The current is playing with them and with me, the entire time – I am trying to capture something that’s never going to be in the same location, same light, same position, ever again.”
Janeanne goes on to say:
“Unlike surfing or any other action sport, free diving is not all about swimming fast or expelling a lot of energy. It’s more to do with clearing your mind, finding your internal flow state, completely relaxing, calming yourself, focusing on your breath and enjoying the trip… and anyone can do it.
Humans are one of the few species that share the mammalian dive reflex, same as seals, dolphins and whales. We (everyone) has the natural ability to hold your breath for two minutes. It’s very easy to learn, but to push over the two minute mark, that’s where the discipline and training comes into its own. Swimming regularly practicing your technique, a good clean diet and yoga helps.
Best of all, we have found that the Free diving has helped in other parts of our life especially with surfing or as a coping mechanism for dealing with stressful situations in general. It teaches you to always take a deep slow breath, step back and relax the heart rate. I would encourage everyone to do a free diving course after a few short training days to give you the tools and techniques to practice safely. It’s the best way to unlock your potential in a safe environment. I did my course with Steve Millard of www.learn2freedive.com.”
When Janeanne is not on her aquatic journeys, She works in partnership with her partner Will Beeslaar running Staunch Industries Design, a small independent design studio and lifestyle brand based in Leith, Edinburgh.
Above, below and beyond by Janeanne Gilchrist is at the J D Fergusson Gallery in Perth, Scotland from 18 November to 24 March 2018.
Catalogue photographs – Janeanne Gilchrist
Artist portrait photograph – Will Beeslaar
Creative Image Retouching – Will Beeslaar
All images are copyright with the artist www.janeannegilchristartist.com
Follow Janeanne’s work at:
- www.janeannegilchristartist.com
- www.behance.net/Unit-photographic
- Social – Instagram – janeannegilchrist
- https://staunchindustries.com
- http://staunchdesignstudio.com
- Twitter – @Staunchsurf
An emotive photograph showing a freediver examining the aftermath of whaling sees
Alex Dawson from Sweden named Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024. Dawson’s
photograph ‘Whale Bones’ triumphed over 6500 underwater pictures entered by underwater
photographers from around the world.
“Whale Bones was photographed in the toughest conditions,” explains chair of judging
panel Alex Mustard, “as a breath-hold diver descends below the Greenland ice sheet to bear
witness to the carcasses. The composition invites us to consider our impact on the great
creatures of this planet. Since the rise of humans, wild animals have declined by 85%. Today,
just 4% of mammals are wildlife, the remaining 96% are humans and our livestock. Our way
needs to change to find a balance with nature.”
Photo: Rafael
Fernandez Caballero
Whales dominated the winning pictures this year with Spanish photographer Rafael
Fernandez Caballero winning two categories with his revealing photos of these ocean giants:
a close up of a grey whale’s eye and an action shot of a Bryde’s whale engulfing an entire bait
ball, both taken in Magdalena Bay, Baja California, Mexico. Fernandez Caballero took ‘Grey
Whale Connection’ while drifting in a small boat, holding his camera over the side in the water
to photograph the curious whale. ‘The End Of A Baitball’ required Fernandez Caballero to dive
down and be in exactly the right place at the moment the whale lunged. “The photo shows
the high speed attack,” he said, “with the whale engulfing hundreds of kilograms of sardines
in one bite — simply unforgettable to see predation on such a scale.”
Photo: Rafael
Fernandez Caballero
Lisa Stengel from the United States was named Up & Coming Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024 for her image of a mahi-mahi catching a sardine, in Mexico. Stengel used both a very fast shutter speed and her hearing to catch the moment. “If you listen there’s an enormous amount of sound in the ocean,” she explained. “The action was too fast to see, so I honed in on the sound of the attacks with my camera to capture this special moment.”
“It is such an exciting time in underwater photography because photographers are capturing such amazing new images, by visiting new locations and using the latest cameras,”
commented judge Alex Mustard. “Until this year I’d hardly ever see a photo of a mahi mahi,
now Lisa has photographed one hunting, action that plays out in the blink of an eye.”
The Underwater Photographer of the Year contest is based in the UK, and Jenny Stock,
was named as British Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024 for her image “Star
Attraction”, which finds beauty in species of British wildlife that are often overlooked.
Exploring the west coast of Scotland, Stock explained “in the dark green depths my torch
picked out the vivid colours of a living carpet of thousands of brittle stars, each with a
different pattern. I was happily snapping away, when I spotted this purple sea urchin and I
got really excited.”
Photo: Jenny Stock
In the same contest, Portuguese photographer, Nuno Sá, was named ‘Save Our Seas
Foundation’ Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year 2024, with his photo ‘Saving
Goliath’, taken in Portugal. Sá’s photo shows beachgoers trying to save a stranded sperm
whale. The picture gives us hope that people do care and want to help the oceans, but also
warns us that bigger changes are needed. “The whale had been struck by a ship and its fate
was sealed,” explains Sá. “An estimated 20,000 whales are killed every year, and many more
injured, after being struck by ships-and few people even realise that it happens.”
Photo: Nuno Sá
More winning images can be found at www.underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com.
About Underwater Photographer of the Year
Underwater Photographer of the Year is an annual competition, based in the UK, that celebrates photography beneath the surface of the ocean, lakes, rivers and even swimming pools, and attracts entries from all around the world. The contest has 13 categories, testing photographers with themes such as Macro, Wide Angle, Behaviour and Wreck photography, as well as four categories for photos taken specifically in British waters. The winners were announced in an award ceremony in Mayfair, London, hosted by The Crown Estate. This year’s UPY judges were experienced underwater photographers Peter Rowlands, Tobias Friedrich and Dr Alexander Mustard MBE.
Header image: Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024 winner Alex Dawson
The winners of the prestigious World Shootout 2023 underwater photography competition were announced at this year’s BOOT Show, captivating audiences at the world’s largest diving and water sports exhibition in Dusseldorf, Germany. Hundreds of photographers from 54 countries competed across nine categories, pushing the boundaries of creativity and technical skill.
Grand Prize Winners
- Picture of the Year: Spanish photographer Eduardo Acevedo “secured” the top Honor with the prestigious prize the “boot Dusseldorf Director’s Prize, earning an Andromeda statuette and a €2,000 cash prize.
- Best 5 Images Portfolio: Luc Rooman from Belgium triumphed in this category, winning a dream 4-week diving trip for two to Papua New Guinea, valued at $18,900.
- Amateur Photographer: Alexandra Ceurvorst from the USA impressed the judges with her talent, taking home the 1,000 € cash prize award.
Celebrating Diversity and Innovation
This year’s competition saw 11,680 entries from 964 photographers, showcasing a remarkable spectrum of skills and perspectives. From the intricate wonders of Macro photography to the beauty of “Black Water”, the “Underwater Fashion” category added a touch of artistry and innovation, while the ever-important ” Environmental & Conservation” category served as a powerful reminder of the need to protect these fragile ecosystems.
Looking Ahead: AI and Ocean Conservation
World Shootout founder and producer David Pilosof unveiled an exciting addition for the 2024 competition: this year the Environmental category will be focusing on the impact of plastic on our oceans and future.
This category will embrace the potential of AI or other editing software as a tool to amplify the conservation message.
Entrants will submit campaigns of three original underwater photographs dealing with plastic pollution, along with their final AI assistance processing. This innovative approach encourages artistic expression while raising awareness about a critical environmental issue.
Explore the Stunning Collection
Discover the complete album of competition entries by clicking here.
For Low-resolution photos of finalist entries in eight categories, click here.
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