Written by Abbi Hughes, Ocean photographer and RNLI crew member
The ocean is everything to me. It inspires my work, my play, my passions. As a photographer I look to the ocean as an everchanging stimulus that helps fuel my creativity. It is my happy place, where I feel most centred, grounded, and mindful. I have an intrinsic connection to saltwater and have been fascinated with the discovery of why. Is it to do with science: nature/nurture? Or is it even simpler – the place I feel most myself?
Growing up between London and Jersey (Channel Islands) I always yearned for the sea when I wasn’t near it and celebrated it with constant submersion in any form whenever it was within reach. My passion has been fuelled by a regular connection with wild waters, which I constantly sought out from this everchanging, near-and-far relationship.
Photography has been my main outlet, allowing me to express my intricate connection to the sea. I enjoy documenting a wide range of ocean action, from simple oceanscapes, ripples in time, to action sports like freediving, surfing or cold sea swimming. The ebb and flow of water is a never-ending source of inspiration. My history with saltwater really started with a love of surfing from the age of ten. I then competed for many years all around Europe, chasing a dream to surf professionally. From there my love of water took me to the beach, where I taught surfing and beach lifeguarded. The more time I spent in the water, the further I explored my passion of image making, which led me to study Marine and Natural History Photography at Falmouth University. This is where my ocean connections project was born, ‘Inhale Exhale’- a body of work exploring people’s ties to the big blue. It was inspired by a personal moment, when I felt lost and unsettled, I would drive to the coast to find solace in the ocean’s landscape. I was immediately calmed, and felt clarity and peace being brought back to my mind.
This experience ignited my curiosity, to explore whether others shared this deep-rooted connection to blue spaces. Whether it was the same as it had been for me- a moment to inhale, exhale, and find balance.
Documenting this personal journey and exploring a wide variety of people’s relationships to blue spaces has driven my work for many years and I’m sure it will continue to do so for many more. This project has thus evolved into a larger piece looking into saltwater stories and recording women’s unique experiences and intrinsic connections to ocean spaces. My most recent work explores the stories of incredible water women, who live their lives seeking adventure, exhilaration, peace, waves or simply the quietness of still seas.
This selection of imagery showcases women and water from around the world. These water portraits are moments of action/stillness that felt unique to each individual. From professional surfers and bodyboarders, to freedivers, RNLI volunteers, and photographers, it is a celebration of waterwomen in all their powerful forms. Shot in black and white to highlight the purity in the connection. By removing colour you strip away distractions and allow the viewer to focus on the emotive energy of the image.
One of the most humbling cetacean encounters I have ever had. We took a rib to the outer reef and back roll entered the deep blue, as the bubbles around us dissipated and the water stilled, small squeals were heard muffled in the ocean. My heart rate started racing, expecting an oceanic white tip shark to circle us. At great speed this large grey mass came hurtling towards us, as my eyes refocused, relief hit, I noticed a common dolphin had arrived. For over an hour this lone dolphin played alongside us, brought us favourite shells, bounced up and down the water column and took long gazes in slow circles around us. Alice, featured in the image is a world record-holding freediver, the dolphin who we named ‘Squishy’ really showed us all what holding your breath underwater looks like. A moment and encounter I will never forget.
It has been inspiring documenting the diverse powers of women in the sea. I enjoy storytelling through imagery, recording a unique moment between subject and landscape and hope to capture the emotion felt within the scene. It was also an important reminder that beyond my personal connection to saltwater, I could use my skills to help people in an ocean that can provide both peace and chaos. I’ve continued to find new ways of immersing myself in the sea. Alongside my time surfing, photographing, and lifeguarding, I now volunteer as Lifeboat Crew for the RNLI. It’s rare to find something in life that you would instantly drop anything for… and that’s how the RNLI pager works. Racing around on fast boats in rough seas is utterly exhilarating – the perfect fix for my adrenalin-seeking character! It’s not all about the adventure though. It’s about helping people and being a part of the local community, which is what motivates me. I attribute my love of life-boating to the crew at Falmouth, who are all a true inspiration. Not only are they passionate, empathetic people, they are all amazing teachers and colleagues who have the innate ability to stay calm in any situation the ocean can throw at us. Many people run away from their fears on a dark stormy night, our crew runs towards it and I find that extremely special. You might think these boats are dominated by men, but I’m thankful to have fearless women by my side at sea.
When I joined the crew, I was immersed in a new world, a very traditional and historically male space that I knew very little about, but deeply respected. Over the years I have been driven to learn all I can about the station, its boats, and procedures and have become committed to saving lives at sea. The crew at Falmouth station are beyond inspirational, I attribute my love of life-boating to the men and women I serve next to and who motivate me daily. Not only are they passionate, empathetic people, they are incredible teachers who have thus fuelled my dedication to the RNLI. When I first started, the training was intense. Learning a range of new topics from scratch is challenging, especially when you are doing it at high speed, on water, usually in big waves, with spray crashing on your face and multi-tasking as if your life depends on it. Thrilling and exhilarating are the words that come to mind as I reminisce on that time, but that’s not to underestimate that it was tough too. You never stop learning on the water and you never witness the exact same rescue twice. There are many constantly changing factors, between the weather, the people, and the scenarios that always keep things interesting. Being part of a team, a crew who look out for one another and for those who call us to help, is a life experience I will forever be grateful for. who look out for one another and for those who call us to help, is a life experience I will forever be grateful for. While the sea has been a peaceful space for me, it is also an often dangerous entity. Ensuring the safety of others in the sea is a powerful role, which has become integral to my own connection with blue spaces.
You can find more of Abbi's work here.
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