Are you ready to get your Ocean Fix?
Welcome to Saltwater Rosie
Connecting you with the ocean, no matter where you are.
ABOUT
SALTWATER ROSIE
Here’s what AI (Artificial Intelligence) wrote about me:
“Saltwater Rosie: The Queen of the Seas
Saltwater Rosie is not just any ordinary swimmer. She is the queen of the seas, the pearl in the crown of open water swimming. Her sleek, elegant design is matched only by her powerful and graceful moves through the water. Whether you are looking for a relaxing swim or an adventure of a lifetime, Saltwater Rosie is the perfect person to take you on a journey and make your dreams a reality. With her experience and state-of-the-art equipment, Saltwater Rosie is fully equipped to navigate even the toughest of seas.
So come along and experience the magic of swimming with Saltwater Rosie.
Here’s what I wrote:
I don't live near the ocean, I drive to it … and I don't mind driving towards my passion.
It's kind of a good metaphor for life. I do miss the ocean, deeply.
I had to figure out how to fulfill my need for daily ocean immersion while living in the city.
I could move to the coast but that doesn't work for my family life.
I now successfully get my ocean fix by doing four things;
1) I write Salty Stories about my swims.
2) I collect Ocean Images on my swims
3) I create Ocean Prints from my ocean images
4) I’ve committed to being a guide swimmer with Gerrard Gosens for his English Channel swim in August 2024. I write about our adventures in my blog “Swimming with Great Dreams”
*(underlined words are quick links)*
I have been apprehensive about putting my images online.
Scared that AI will replicate or improve on my ocean images and in doing so reduce the value of my work that I have faithfully nurtured over many seasons.
Now, I’ve come to understand that AI may replicate my images, but it can’t replicate my passion.
It will be able to reproduce what has already been shown, it won’t capture the unseen. With the AI paragraph about me (above), you could swap out ‘swim*’ with ‘ship*’ and it still works, it’s generalised based on what’s been done before. With my words, I’ve let you into my world. I’ve shared that I crave the ocean on a daily basis, that I love and prioritise my family, and I’ll work hard to figure things out.
Understanding this difference took me closer to sharing my work with you, but I still needed an additional nudge.
I read that giving is a method for feeling happiness, and fascination is sparked when receiving gifts - as in, “Ooh, what does this person think of me? What gift have they chosen for me?”
I’ve thought long and hard and decided that I want to share my images and stories with you, as a gift from me to you.
It’s my way of saying “I think you have an adventurous spirit. I know you love the ocean as much as I do.” I hope my work sparks your imagination and adds to your collection of things that make you fascinating.
Happy connecting to the ocean, no matter where you are,
x SR
If you love exploring the Ocean,
you’re in the right place
NEWEST STORY
It Happened Again. The Ocean Said "NO!!"
I've said it before, it's not the ocean's job to match it's conditions to our swimming, rather our swimming has to match the ocean. Atlas Events hosted their Mooloolaba swim yesterday (3km, 1.5km and 750m). A lovely date was set in October, before the cyclone season starts. Except, this year there WAS a cyclone off the coast and it brought with it 4 to 5m swells. The Ocean said “No” to the original swim.
Time For Plan B
For those that know, 4m swell brings a decent size wave that has its origins in deep ocean. When a swell of that size comes through, it's not just surface water movement, every inch is moving with presence. Combined with the gusty winds it meant that the event could not proceed as planned and the contingency plan was implemented. A course was laid out in safer, more protected waters of the Mooloolaba Spit.
But Is Plan B Worth It?
Jo and I were on the road by 4:45am to start the 2 hour drive North, knowing by now that all this effort was for Plan B. We may have sighed a little in the car. The Plan B course struck us a being a bit, well, not what we'd signed up for. Could we find something in it to make it worth the effort?
It Didn't Get Any Better
We arrived in Mooloolaba to dark, grey, overcast skies with drizzly rain that would suddenly, and intermittently, turn into real rain without warning. The wind was up, blowing the drizzle-rain under the shelter we had sought. Neither of us were properly prepared, having left our coats & warm gear at home. Waiting, cold, not looking forward to Plan B - we really weren't much company.
And Then The Calvary Arrived
About 10 minutes into our misery, the Great Dreams Team joined us in the shelter; Gerrard, Chris, Jenn, Phil and his lovely wife Di. Within moments, there was laughter, and warmth - literally and figuratively as Chris's mum Joan had knitted beanies for us. Almost all the guide swimmers were here so we took the opportunity for Di to take some photos, missing only inter-state guide swimmer Hayden.
We're Here, Get In.
As a team , we headed into the water for our warm up swim. As we swam, we talked, discussed the course and possible tactics. 3 of us would stay with Gerrard; 1 tethered, 1 as point (front) and 1 flanking Gerrard to prevent other swimmers from coming between him and his tethered guide. To be fair to other swimmers on the course, they wouldn't be expecting swimmers to be tethered and they wouldn't know to look out for it. The remaining 2 guides, having checked & re-checked with the team, decided to have a proper crack at racing the course. Each person had a reason for being here on this swim today and each seemed genuinely happy with their agreed-to actions.
Plan B Turned Out
For me, I chose to flank Gerrard and added the extra task of taking photos and grabbing some video on the Go Pro, 'cos you know, my camera's an extension of me. And much to my surprise, Plan B was fun! Suprisingly there were several indivudals who were adamant they wanted to draft off Gerrard, ... and if I had given up my position they would have snapped up the oportunity come up the inside and swum over his tether. In addition, even in the protected section of the Mooloolaba Spit the seaward leg of the course had us swimming into the wind with chop and mouthfuls of sea spray making us dig a little deeper and reaching for variations in swim technique to match.
Job Done
Phil did an amazing job as Gerrard's tethered guide while Jo had held the essential position as point. Gerrard worked hard the whole swim! He told me afterwards he thought my close presence was because I was evaluating his stroke and so he was being extra vigilant! Only afterwards did he learn it was because he had tailgaitors that I was re-directing around him. Chris and Jenn finished the course quickly and swam back out to meet us for the approach to the finish line. I love the photo I took of the team exiting the water, everyone looks content! The Ocean said "No" to the original plan but gave us another option and it somehow brought out the best in each of us.
xSR
Fine Art Ocean Prints
Just like fish in the sea, there’s plenty of ocean images for you to view.
If you find one that you love, it can be made into a fine art print, like the print below.
Head to the Ocean Prints page to find out how, or start your discovery with Ocean Images.
PLAYFUL LIGHT
"Playful light" captures the behaviour of sunlight as it lightly flickers on the sand in a playful and whimsical manner.
This is a custom 30 x 24 inch art piece printed directly onto acrylic resulting in a stunning glass-like finish, ready to hang with minimal maintenance.
You can add a frame to or leave unframed.
Saltwater Rosie customer spotlight
“So happy with this pic, thank you so much Saltwater Rosie! 😊
Love everything about it~ the rolling wave in its gentle form, the splash, and the contrast and clarity of everything you have captured. Absolutely love it thank you!
All my visitors keep commenting on it and it is made all the more special knowing where it has come from.
Thank you so much!”
— Megan J.
Gold Coast, Australia
If an Ocean Image sparks something in you, perhaps your curiosity or wonder, please drop me a line.
I’d love to hear about your experience.
My email is Rosie@saltwaterrosie.com.au
Or find me on social media @SaltwaterRosie
I will be starting a weekly Saltwater Rosie newsletter, sign up now and don’t miss any of my newest Ocean Images or Salty Stories.
See below for more details.
With every print sold, Saltwater Rosie will donate 10% of the sale to
“Parley, for the oceans”
“Parley for the Oceans is the global environmental organization and network where creators, thinkers and leaders come together to raise awareness for the beauty and fragility of the oceans and collaborate on projects that can end their destruction. Working across the creative communities, brands, governments and environmental groups, we take action to protect the oceans, Earth’s largest and most vital ecosystem, with an approach led by creativity, collaboration and eco-innovation.” ~ Parley website 2023
Acknowledgement of Country
I live in Australia and I acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first nation people and the traditional custodians of the lands and guardians of the sea where I live, learn and work.
I pay my respect to the Elders past, present, and emerging, for they hold the memories, the traditions and culture.
