Photos Gary Sissons & suppled
Camera in hand, standing on the end of Seaford Pier in June 2021, photographer/writer Fiona Basile looked out at the open-water swimmers and thought they were crazy. Just as that thought popped up, so did a pod of dolphins, frolicking in the frigid water. The magic of that moment sparked a conversation that shifted her focus.
When the swimmers came out of the water, Fiona offered to share her photos and videos. They invited her to join their group. During lockdowns, the freedom of the open water and the fellowship of the other swimmers was a great comfort. Open water swimming is now a part of Fiona’s regular routine.
In her latest photographic book, Immerse, she has collected 35 inspiring personal stories from members of this close-knit community of swimmers. They share what brought them into the water, the joy and beauty it brings and the extraordinary healing impact of open water swimming on their bodies, minds and spirits. The book invites readers to dive into their seascape and share the experience.
For more than 100 brave souls, this is literally what happened. The images from the book formed an exhibition at the 2024 Frankston Arts Centre’s annual Southside Festival. That led to the Southside Sea Soak event where over 100 people tried open water swimming to experience the therapeutic benefits of cold-water immersion and the fun of the adventure.
When she isn’t swimming or working on Australian projects, Fiona travels. She has travelled all over the world on photo assignments. She’s been to fifteen countries across South America, Europe, North America, the Pacific Islands and Africa capturing faces, places and events. She totally immerses herself in the cultures, customs and cuisines of each country.
Her love of travel was sparked by family holidays. Both her parents immigrated to Australia from Sicily. They took Fiona and her siblings to Italy on a number of occasions. The family also travelled to Fiji and spent many summer holidays in Surfers Paradise. Growing up in Kerang, a small Victorian country town, Fiona had lots of freedom and opportunity to explore. Travel expanded that sense of adventure.
Experimenting with photography began in high school. Fiona borrowed her Dad’s old Minolta SLR camera. She loved taking family photos and pictures of her friends. Printed on her candle for graduation mass, her wish for the future was ‘to become a photojournalist’.
She left Kerang to pursue a double degree in Law and Arts at Deakin University in Geelong, majoring in Journalism. When she finished the journalism course, she got a cadetship at the Geelong Advertiser newspaper and realised she was more interested in photography than writing.
I was looking for places where I could share stories and take photos that would build people up, create connection, deepen human understanding or inspire
While finishing her law degree she began studies in photography at the International College of Professional Photography in Melbourne. The creative outlet was a welcome counterpoint to studying law. After completing her education, Fiona made the simple decision to work with people she liked whose values she shared.
Her freelance photography/writing career began working in government communications, not-for-profit groups and faith based-organisations. “I was looking for places where I could share stories and take photos that would build people up, create connection, deepen human understanding or inspire,” she says. She calls travel her ‘heart work’. She loves the adventure, sharing, connection and cuisine.
One of her most interesting assignments was working in rural Malawi documenting non-physician clinicians assisting women through childbirth. An unexpected conversation with a group of African doctors she met while riding her bicycle in Gotland, Sweden led to this photo commission funded by New York’s Columbia University. The resulting photos were shown in Washington, DC in an exhibition opened by Princess Mary of Denmark.
Fiona’s favourite subject is people. She particularly loves faces and hands. She recently interviewed a 101-year-old widower who had lost his wife of 72 years. Fiona took a picture of him holding their wedding photo. She won her first Best Original Photo Award in 2011 (Australasian Press Association) for a picture of a father cradling his newborn baby in his hands.
Documenting International Youth Days in Rome with the Pope, as a member of the Australasian Catholic Press Association, was especially meaningful to Fiona. Many of her writing and photography awards have come through her work for member publications of the Australian Catholic Press Association.
Fiona’s photographic style is spontaneous, relaxed and reflective. Whether she is conveying the peace, calm and joy of the open water, her Nonna’s raucous laughter after she steals a kiss from Nonno, the smiling eyes of street children in Malawi, a majestic European landscape or a beautiful bowl of pasta, her work is full of heart.
fionabasile.com
IG: @fifilepiu