The Diver by Deborah Parkin
Deborah Parkin

The Diver by

I usually call these divers who dive in freezing cold lakes in the middle of January ‘nutters’ but i went along to see them and i have to admit i actually admired their passion for their sport. This was taken in the Lake District – a very special part of the UK – it was freezing but beautiful. When they go down into the lake after about 8 metres the visability is almost non-existent (apparently this is part of the thrill) and i wanted to convery this vulnerability and isolation in this image.

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Tags

black, deborah, diver, diving, man, parkin, ullswater, white

Comments

  • Torfinn
    Torfinnover 4 years ago

    Excellent shot Deb! Great composition, details, and dof.

  • Zigga
    Ziggaover 4 years ago

    You’ve captured this beautifully. There’s a great sense of the unknown but something special too! Gorgeous image!

  • Jeff  Burns
    Jeff Burnsover 4 years ago

    OMG I swore it said “The Driver” then I opened this up and I was like what the heck!!
    Man my eyes played tricks on me on that one.
    Love this shot Deb. Like the way you caught the water in this shot. Beautifully done.

  • Rhana Griffin
    Rhana Griffinover 4 years ago

    Is it odd that this image makes me feel a little claustrophobic? I guess that in itself goes to show that this is a powerful and very emotive piece. You do this so well Deb…

  • Thanks Rhana – this is exactly how i imagined it would feel once you were in the water and the thick blackness and the silence – that feeling of isolation (i couldn’t do it but they come up from the water buzzing).

    – Deborah Parkin

  • Benjamin Scheurer
    Benjamin Scheurerover 4 years ago

    Brilliant shot….I like the vignetting here >>> feels like tunnel vision…>>the diver has to focus<<

  • LOL Benjamin – by the way i hate to admit it but you were right about the last image :)

    – Deborah Parkin

  • willd
    willdover 4 years ago

    know the feeling well – for some reason divers do this, one of those almost masochistic pleasures!

  • velveteagle
    velveteagleover 4 years ago

    I used to do this Deb.. You did a wonderful job here.. You should try it .. Under the thick ice is really weird when you crab crawl upside down looking up.

  • Ooh i don’t know – maybe when the children are older and we are in the Great Barrier Reef or the Maldives LOL!!! No ice diving though thank you – too claustraphobic – it takes my breath away just thinking about it :)

    – Deborah Parkin

  • Mel Brackstone.com
    Mel Brackstone...over 4 years ago

    Wow Deb, what an amazing shot, and story to go with it! Good on you for getting out there in the cold, and good on the nutter too :)

  • Halcyon007
    Halcyon007over 4 years ago

    Love the use of the vignette here Deb. It pulls in the eye to the claustrophic feel that it must be like 8 metres under the water. The shot feels tight and almost as though you have a divers mask on yourself. A fellow diver taking a last look at his buddy before they dive in together.

    The focus again is just spot on. The subject is the diver, and as beautiful as the Lake District is, it can just blend in as background. The key feature is the diver, and all the equipment that they need to do the hobby that they do.

    I love the way the water is patterned – even in it’s blurred black and white state – it still gives off the feeling of cold.

    Excellent portrayal. Two hobbies and two passions collide!

  • dazgwen
    dazgwenover 4 years ago

    Absolutely great and fantastic shot!!! Should be in a magazine fair dinkum!!!!