WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Featuring Olympian Francesca Owen
From the Olympic stage to the world beneath the surface, Francesca Owen has transformed her sporting career into a thriving path in underwater photography. We catch up the London 2012 Olympian to explore how our sport helped shape her career.
What first drew you to artistic swimming at the age of eight, and how did your early beginnings shape your approach to the sport throughout your career?
My mum was the one who drew me and my sisters to synchronized swimming. She was always mesmerised by a group of synchronised swimmers when she was growing up in the UK called the Aquabells; when me and my sisters were doing dance mum was determined to find us a synchro club :) we were doing dance and synchro at the same time but the love for synchro soon took over.
Can you share a defining moment from your time competing at the London Olympics in 2012?
The atmosphere of everyone in London was so warming; all the volunteers were always so happy and distinctly remember a volunteer we would always see on our way to the training pool which always made us smile. Having my family and friends there for support was so special too, and of course walking up at the opening ceremony!
How did your experiences as an elite athlete inform your sense of discipline and creativity once you moved into the arts?
I have definitely carried a sense of perfectionism with me, throughout my work. Always searching for that perfect image that makes you feel something; similar to always aiming to get higher out of the water with your boots and thrusts.
Are there any values or habits from your swimming days that you feel are still integral to your daily artistic practice?
In relation to my shoot, I always need to warm up my breath before doing an underwater shoot; similar to when doing synchro it helps you get into the space and have your mind connect to your body. For day to day I am always trying to be active and creative in some way, that has followed me from training as a synchronized swimmer which is a big positive.
What inspired your transition from Olympic artistic swimmer to fine art photographer, and did you encounter any surprising challenges along the way?
It was a yearning I had after the Olympics, I was capturing a lot of weddings at the time as I had already studied photography at university but I knew the passion I had for synchro and self expression wasn't going away. It started off from a place of exploration of my friends and teammates, of us all missing being in the water but enjoying that new lens of creativity and being together, creating. I purchased an underwater Nikonos V film camera, the only one I could afford at the time and as soon as I started creating underwater, it ignited that fire of creativity in me and I loved it. I started getting my family and friends asking for prints in their homes, and I soon saved up for an underwater housing for my digital camera and it organically grew from there. I have been very fortunate to have the background of the beautiful sport behind me and my teammates and friends, as well as my knowledge of having already studied photography. It's one of those moments when both of your passions merge when you least expect it. I truly believe my path was to always end up as an underwater fine art photographer. There have been many challenges along the way, and there will be more in the future but I think that comes with any job and career.
How do your underwater photo shoots capture the magic and emotion familiar to artistic swimmers?
My imagery is slightly different to your typical synchronised swimming shots; I drifted away from the perfect lines of everyone doing the same position to a realm of free form and self exploration. I wasn't so much a conscious decision but my instinct when creating underwater was to steer away from the world of synchro we had trained in. I was wanting to capture a slightly different angle of the sport; one where it focused more on letting go and creating a lens for the moment in between. When performing in synchro you are so focused on the music and the counts, and what everyone is doing; my imagery now captures those moments of pause and space; that can be freeing and it can also be uncomfortable to start with but it's a bridge to more creativity and self expression.
Can you describe your process when creating a new photographic series—what elements do you draw from your swimming background?
My photographic series are a blend of inspiration from recent or past experiences and having that urge to capture the magic beneath the surface and creating imagery to sparks that fire in others. Similar to when you hear music in the car and you can imagine swimming/moving to it, or when you're newly choreographing a routine you gather aspects of inspiration from around you and focus it into your creative vessel at that time.
Have you collaborated with recent Olympic Teams on your ‘Ladies on the Rise’ and 'Ladies in Waiting' collections, have you done anything with other athletes recently?
I was recently on the Gold Coast and visited my old swimming club and coach, Gold Coast Mermaids and spent the evening capturing the team there which was a lovely experience. Being back in the old pool I used to train in was nostalgic but also coming full circle to capture the magic of this sport is always emotional for me, having still been connected to the sport and having my own creative lens to it as an artist is such a privilege.
How do you hope your images inspire or empower young swimmers and artists in Australia?
I tend to create from a space of emotion but I also carry part of my photojournalism degree with me with wanting to tell a story. Having looked back on my bodies of work and collections I am always wanting the viewer to feel what I feel when capturing that moment; a sense of igniting a fire of self expression and escapism within yourself.
I get so excited when I am beneath the surface watching the strength and grace of the female form and athleticism in front of my lens. I hope my imagery inspires young swimmers, and artists in Australia to feel encouraged to not be afraid of expressing who they are and being unique.
What advice would you share with athletes considering a creative career after sport? Who or what are your major artistic influences?
My main advice would be to keep following what sets your creativity alive and follow your intuition. You know when you feel connected to something in a positive way; being a creative and following that freelance life comes with its challenges, but if you keep pursuing something you believe in you can't go wrong.
My major artistic influencers are definitely my subjects in front of my lens! I am so fortunate to have captured so many talented athletes and models where they trust my creative lens and imagination.
A few major photographers who have inspired me are Peter Lindberg & Silm Aarons to keep the list short.
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