Curious about Life

“I took this photograph on my first post-pandemic trip to Brighton on the south coast of England. I am always fascinated by the British seaside and love shooting in coastal towns and resorts.

I was walking along Brighton beach when I saw a group of teenagers playing in the sea. The light was good, and I started to take some photos. As they walked onto the beach, they didn’t seem bothered about me shooting them, so I followed them to a pier where they were taking turns jumping into the water. In hindsight, this wasn’t the safest thing they could have been doing.

Getting physically close to the subject is, for me, very important. I try to get as close as possible but not close enough that my presence influences the situation. I strive to do this when taking pictures. So, I stayed with them for a few minutes but kept moving closer as I wanted the images to feel like I was in the moment with them rather than just observing.

I started trying to capture the kids jumping with various degrees of success, but the connection between the boy and the girl in the picture was also interesting. As I turned my camera to them, a lifeguard in a small boat approached the pier. At the same time, another girl ran past, climbed on the wall and started to jump. As she launched herself, she shouted and gestured to the lifeguard.

It was one of those moments when everything seemed to come together for a split second. The boy and girl in the foreground, the girl jumping, the light. I took just one frame, and a few moments later, the group of teenagers vanished.“

Find a portfolio of Sarah Ascough in upcoming LFI 7/2022.