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Water-Jewel,’ from Brad Walls’s ‘Water Geomaids’ photo series

Australian photographer captures art of synchronized swimming

Sheila Gibson Stoodley
Sheila Gibson Stoodley
‘Water-Jewel,’ from Brad Walls’s ‘Water Geomaids’ photo series
‘Water-Jewel,’ from Brad Walls’s ‘Water Geomaids’ photo series

SYDNEY, Australia – Award-winning fine art aerial photographer Brad Walls, also known as Bradscanvas, released a new body of work titled Water Geomaids, in which he invites audiences to experience an intimate and unique perspective on synchronized swimming just in time for the 2021 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Following soon after capturing sportspeople and swimming pools, Walls next set his sights on creating a hybrid photography series that utilised his expertise in both subject matters. The lack of existing synchronized swimming photography served as an additional impetus to Walls, who stated, “I was surprised at the lack of imagery capturing the shapes and patterns that synchronized swimmers create.” As he had already had experience in capturing the arts of diving, gymnastics, tennis, and ballet, Walls knew that synchronized swimming aligned perfectly with his aesthetic.

‘Form,’ from Brad Walls’s ‘Water Geomaids’ photo series
‘Form,’ from Brad Walls’s ‘Water Geomaids’ photo series

Walls teamed up with a Sydney-based synchronized swimming team choreographed by Katrina Ann, a former competitor who has competed at the Commonwealth Games and in multiple World Championships. Ann needed no convincing to work with Walls, and said, “Artistic swimmers spend hours every day working to achieve perfection. With Brad’s eye for detail, perspective and creativity, we were able to showcase our hard work that is often lost to the naked eye.”

‘Pearls,’ from Brad Walls’s ‘Water Geomaids’ photo series
‘Pearls,’ from Brad Walls’s ‘Water Geomaids’ photo series

Walls began pinning ideas that were composed of many artistic sports – not just synchronized swimming – and inspired him to draw out the geometric shapes he wanted to form on paper and create in the pool. Utilising these drawings, Walls and Ann collaborated closely in order to bring the drawings to life.

‘Staircase,’ from Brad Walls’s ‘Water Geomaids’ photo series
‘Staircase,’ from Brad Walls’s ‘Water Geomaids’ photo series

“When working Katrina, our aim was to cherry-pick static positions from routines that build repetition of form and geometric sequences,” Walls said. He meticulously plans out all of his shots beforehand with a similar method, but regarding the majority of the shoot, he states that “Eighty percent is planned, twenty percent is impromptu,” and added, “No matter the amount of planning that goes into it, there will always be an unplanned frame that looks awesome and couldn’t possibly have been planned. That is the embodiment of art.“

For more Water Geomaids images, visit the bradscanvas.com website and see @bradscanvas on Instagram.