Finest photo I have ever seen! Beside the heroism, the successful rescue and nothing but good coming out of the story I have never, ever ever seen a photo that told a story like this one. Everybody has their own beliefs but this is simply the finals photo I have ever seen in my life.
sb
Loc: Florida's East Coast
I wondered how this photo was taken, but then leaned that the swimmer is an "artistic swimmer" - she wasn't swimming laps, but was doing a dance-like routine in/under the water. Apparently part of what is involved is blowing out as much air as possible from your lungs so that you don't have to fight to stay underwater. That is why she was sinking after she passed out. This is not the first time she has passed out while doing a routine, from what one news story said!
FYI: there is a thing called the "mammalian diving reflex" that when your face is in the water, especially cold water, the brain tells the brainstem to stop breathing. This reflex is inapparent and easily overridden when you are swimming, but when you are unconscious, you will tend not to breathe in water. That is why people may survive being immersed in water for multiple minutes.
a photo is to tell a story. this one does.
Great outcome and great shot, WOW!!!
I'm glad there was someone there to save her.
A quick thinking heroine in action. Great story, great photo, great outcome.
Apparently, passing out is fairly common is this particular sport as the person has to hold her breath for a long time, sometimes too long. The rescuer is the competitor's coach and the rescuee has passed out at least once before. The shot was taken by a photographer who happened to be setting up an underwater drone for the next event to be held in the pool.
Amazing in sooo many ways. The number of factors occurring simultaneously that came together to create this image WITHOUT it being staged are hard to comprehend. I wonder if the camera drone operator reacted instantly, or whether he/she was using slack time to be recording preparatory images. Of course the outcome is heavily influenced by the athleticism (sp?) of all involved. Kudos to the swim coach for intense concentration and awareness while doing her job.
jrvinson45 wrote:
Amazing in sooo many ways. The number of factors occurring simultaneously that came together to create this image WITHOUT it being staged are hard to comprehend. I wonder if the camera drone operator reacted instantly, or whether he/she was using slack time to be recording preparatory images. Of course the outcome is heavily influenced by the athleticism (sp?) of all involved. Kudos to the swim coach for intense concentration and awareness while doing her job.
From what I read, he saw the commotion at the other end of the pool and reacted to it.
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