Swimmers come to the sea for many reasons. For over a year, photographic artist Gerry Blake has been examining the ritual practice of regular sea swimming. Visiting more than 10 bathing areas around Dublin, he depicts individual swimmers as they approach the sea at various times of the day. Into the Sea portrays them at their most thoughtful and reflective in the moments before they plunge into the open waters.

Gerry holds an MFA in Photography from Ulster University. His award-winning work has been exhibited widely in galleries, including the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA Annual Exhibition, 2015, 2017), The National Gallery of Ireland (Hennessy Portrait Prize, 2015), and the Ulster Museum (Royal Ulster Academy Annual Exhibition, 2017). He lives in north County Wicklow.

Featured Exhibition of PhotoIreland Festival 2018.