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In Brittany, freedivers and riders by the sea.
This photo story follows freedivers in Brittany in January 2022, as well as riders who gallop into the waves. It shows two ways of living close to the sea in winter.
Scallop fishing is open to professionals and amateurs from October to March. It is a chance for the region’s freedivers to put their skills into practice. Sometimes they must dive to more than ten metres, in water that can fall below ten degrees, to bring the shells back by hand.
This feat requires regular training, which lets them hold their breath for more than three minutes. Besides, these fishers defend an eco-friendly way of fishing. Their technique does not destroy the seabed, unlike trawlers that scrape the bottom to bring up the precious shellfish.
The story does not stop at deep water. On the beach, at daybreak, riders enter the sea with their horses. One gallops on a white horse, another moves forward on a black horse in the water.
Aerial shots complete the series: a stone slipway beaten by the waves, two divers on a turquoise sea and the Breton coast in the mist. You also see the preparations, when divers store their gear on a slipway facing the ocean.
In Brittany, the sea sets the rhythm of life for those who live on the coast. Freedivers in Brittany and riders share the same taste for the open sea and the elements. This photo story brings these two worlds together in the same seaside light. Each frame keeps the energy of the moment and the texture of the sea.
This story is part of Alexander Bee’s documentary photography portfolio. You can also discover Artisanal mines. To buy a print or use a photo, contact me. To learn more: Freediving on Wikipedia.
Photos © Alexander Bee – all rights reserved. Prints and licensing: contact me.
