Three years ago, Jorge Perez Ortiz was on a small wooden boat travelling from Cartagena in Colombia to a group of nearby islands when the sea became unexpectedly rough. As a strong wave hit, Ortiz, sitting at the bow, felt his body lift and come down sharply on his seat. The sudden impact fractured a vertebra. He was taken to hospital and underwent emergency surgery.
“I’ve always been captivated by the power of water and the sense of freedom and escape one feels when diving into it,” Ortiz says, “but until that point, I’d never considered the other side of this freedom and the risks it carries.”
When he was back home in Barcelona, the accident and recovery inspired a new photographic series, The Swimmers, now a book (Alep Publishing). “What happened sparked a newfound appreciation for life and for the resilience of the body,” he says. “With the support of a coach, I began swimming, and I felt compelled to document this world with my camera.”
Ortiz shot the series on medium format film, but would occasionally use his iPhone 16 Pro Max to assist him in setting up. This image was shot on his phone at a pool used in Barcelona’s 1992 Olympic Games; the city’s cathedral and the Torre Glòries skyscraper are visible in the background. The swimmers are from two of the city’s teams, Sabadell and Mediterranean. Ortiz told them where to stand but adds that their poses were not directed.
“I was really surprised by the confidence they showed in front of the camera and the powerful energy they transmitted,” he adds. “This project is a tribute to hard work and unwavering dedication.”