A photographer has launched a new project focusing on sea swimmers around the Weymouth and Portland area.

Will Lane, 33, a former engineer from Weymouth, became a full-time photographer in 2022.

Although he specialises in wedding photography, he felt inspired to complete a project focusing on sea swimming, highlighting the great benefits it brings to the local community.

As an avid sea swimmer himself, Will is keen to showcase how the hobby boasts many social benefits as well as connecting people with nature.

He said: “I took up sea swimming at the start of 2023 after my friend recommended it to me. I found it really helped reduce both my depression and anxiety levels because it was such a sensory overload first thing in the day.

Dorset Echo:

“The benefits are fantastic. It connects you with nature but there’s also the social side of it as well because you meet up with friends who sea swim and talk to other people as you take part. The community for it is so strong. People start it for their own reasons but stick with it for the mental health and social benefits."

He added: “There are lots of different spots to go to if you’re in Weymouth Portland. So, if there are massive waves on Chesil Beach you can just bob over to Castletown in Portland. There’s lots of choice for locations and I think accessibility is also really good.”

Will subsequently decided to merge his two passions together to create a new photography project. Since December last year, he has been documenting sea swimmers of Weymouth and Portland by taking their portraits and sharing their stories.

Along the way, he has met with many volunteer-led groups such as Bluetits of Weymouth Bay, Blue Balls Weymouth and Beach Babes Weymouth, introducing people to an inclusive and informal space to try cold and open water swimming. Dorset Echo:

“It’s been a fantastic project as I’m meeting people who swim in all locations around Weymouth and Portland.

“On Greenhill beach, you’ll find a group of ladies called the Blue Bluetits of Weymouth Bay who go down there first thing in the morning weekdays and weekends and the beach is chock-a-block.

“Then there’s a group of older gentlemen who go in off by Café Oasis, and a group of younger women who meet by the Pier Bandstand, there’s so many groups that you can literally join when you want to.”

While there are no concrete plans as of yet, Will hopes that work from this project can be turned into an exhibition and also a photography book showing how sea swimming has become an ingrained part of the Weymouth community.

He said: “I wanted to show what a big community there is for sea swimming in Weymouth. It’s for everyone, it doesn’t matter your age, gender, background, or race.”