Swimming
Swimming the canals and catacombs of Paris
Alex Voyer is a photographer who explored Paris looking for the most unique shots of wild swimmers in the city.
Voyer is used to traveling all around the world on expeditions capturing shots of wild animals, but in the last three years the photographer decided to go and explore his own city of Paris, France.
Swimming in the city
© Alex Voyer
''I live close to the Canal de l’Ourcq in the north of Paris and last year I decided to go and swim once a week there all year round whatever the conditions," Voyer says. "It was freezing more than three of the weeks and we had to break the ice to swim in it several times.''
Swimming in La Seine river
© Alex Voyer
Three years ago, everybody thought that Alex and his friends were a bit crazy to go swimming in Paris. ''But now that the mayor said that some swimming races will take place in the River Seine, many people are changing their minds'' explains Alex.
Swimming the Canal Saint-Martin
© Alex Voyer
Voyer continued the exploration until the catacombs or the long tunnel of the Canal Saint Martin from Bastille to République Place.
''Now, even some friends coming from all around the world, such as the surfer Alison Teal [pictured in the gallery below] also asked me to take the plunge. You can see her surfing in the River Seine, the catacombs and in a fountain in front of the Eiffel Tower with her pink board," comments Alex.
Alison Teal swimming in Catacombs
© Alex Voyer
Alison Teal surfing in Paris catacombs
© Alex Voyer
A surfer in front of Eiffel Tower
© Alex Voyer
A swim in front of Eiffel Tower
© Alex Voyer
Alex also now visits friends all around Europe to swim in any urban landscape, such as London below the Tower Bridge, or even in Stockholm. ''Adventure can be closer than what we can even imagine!'' says the photographer.
A swimmer in Canal Saint Martin
© Alex Voyer
Alex wants to show that there is no need to cross oceans to be an adventurer. You can find it in your own city.
Tower Bridge in London
© Alex Voyer