Ladies make a splash in fast lane
Photographer captures some inspirational shots of women taking to the water in style
FORGET everything you think you know about photos of women in swimwear.
Forget come-hither poses and silly pouts, skimpy costumes and simpering smiles.
Glasgow photographer Denise Noone and the 16 forty-plus women she has captured on film for a stunning new exhibition are having none of it.
“These women are firmfooted, adorned and vibrant,” smiles Denise. “They are not pouty or dour, they are joyous.”
Bathing Bells is a glorious collection of images, currently adorning the walls of Govanhill Baths, but the inspiration for it came from an unusual place.
“I have a little ceramic figurine on my desk, in the shape of a woman swimming, with arms outstretched,” says Denise. “It made me think about that sense of being light and free, and how lovely that is.
“I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis four years ago, and because of that, I don’t often feel light of foot.
“I can feel clod-dy and heavy, I can’t move as quickly as I used to.
“The ceramic made me think about how lovely it would be to have that feeling of lightness.”
Denise admits her diagnosis came as a shock. “It does make you panic and look into what it could mean for you, the way you read all the side effects when you have to take tablets,” she explains, wryly. “But it hasn’t been too bad for me, to be honest.
“I have had to re-imagine my working life – I can’t rush around the way I used to, or handle last-minute deadlines, I have to pace myself. But I’m not in pain, so I’m fortunate.”
Denise has been a photographer for more than 30 years, working in a variety of areas from weddings to public relations.
This is her first solo exhibition and it has already captured the hearts of Govanhill Baths users and the wider community.
“I have had some really lovely feedback,” smiles Denise. “It’s great to hear people enjoy it.”
Bathing Bells is a bright and cheerful display of real women, with real bodies and faces – and expressions.
“The trend just now seems to be for very serious, very straight faces with no smiles, almost no expression whatsoever,” says Denise.
“And then we have so many young women taking selfies with awful pouts – I have daughters, so I know all about it and I just think, why on earth are you doing that?
“I wanted my portraits to be vibrant and full of positive expression.”
She explains: “The idea of women in swimwear conjures up images of the archetypal poses, with hips jutting out and legs to the side – we didn’t have any of that.”
Denise adds, exasperated: “I was also conscious that it’s usually young women who get photographed.
“Once you get to 40, you seem to fall off the radar and no-one wants to take your picture any more.”
All of the women in Bathing Bells are over 40; some are friends of the photographer, but many are strangers who approached her to get involved once they had heard about the project. Melanie O’Donnell, the ceramic artist whose figurine inspired Denise, features on the exhibition poster, and she has also created a range of mini statues based on the portraits.
“It has been lovely – by talking about the project at Govanhill Baths, and through their Rags to Riches upcycling project, lots of women volunteered to be part of it,” says Denise.
The name is NOT a spelling mistake, Denise points out – the ‘bells’ refer to real bells, rather than the idea of a ‘belle’ which suggests someone young and pretty.
“These are women ringing their own bells, standing on their own two feet, proud and joyous,” says Denise.
“We shot many of the women inside the baths, and some in locations where they felt at ease.
“Some were apprehensive at first, of course, but they all said they enjoyed it.”
There is a vintage feel to the shots, thanks to beautiful adornments in the shape of swim caps, jewellery and head-dresses, made by Denise at home in Cathcart.
“I have four children, and my house is always busy and noisy, so making the headdresses became like therapy for me,” she smiles.
“I’d disappear off at night and spend hours making them.
“After the shoot, we decorated the pool at Govanhill with them, and people started to pick them up and try them on. It was interactive and fun, and I really loved that.”
Bathing Bells runs until Saturday at Govanhill Baths.