Swimming Opposite - from the Pool Ladies collection Unique Cyanotype from a Photograph by Michael Joseph Original photograph: Taken in Clapham, London, 1987 Cyanotype: Handcrafted in the Dordogne, France, June 2026 Process: Traditional cyanotype using the sunshine of south-west France Unique work Mount size: 40 × 30 cm There is something quietly poetic about two figures sharing the same body of water while inhabiting entirely different worlds. Originally photographed by Michael Joseph as part of his celebrated Pool Ladies series, this image has been reimagined through the cyanotype process into something dreamlike, delicate and almost mythological. The swimmers appear suspended beneath the surface of memory itself, their forms emerging and dissolving within a luminous field of rich Prussian blue. One figure glides gracefully with arms outstretched, while the other drifts serenely in the opposite direction, eyes closed and seemingly untouched by the movement around her. Together they create a quiet conversation between motion and stillness, closeness and distance, encounter and escape. The traditional cyanotype process imbues the work with an ethereal atmosphere that feels at once contemporary and timeless. Early photographic alchemy and modern artistic interpretation converge within a single image, evoking water, sky, memory and the human spirit with remarkable simplicity. Presented within a crisp white conservation mount, the composition takes on an added sense of calm and clarity. The clean border frames the deep cobalt blues beautifully, allowing the luminous figures to breathe while enhancing the print's serene, minimalist elegance. The brilliant white surround provides the perfect counterpoint to the velvety Prussian tones, giving the artwork a fresh, gallery-quality presence. As with every handmade cyanotype, chance remains an essential collaborator. Sunlight, chemistry, humidity and exposure leave subtle signatures that can never be repeated precisely. Every variation in tone and texture becomes part of the print's identity, ensuring that this is a genuinely one-of-a-kind artwork. Created by Michael Joseph's daughter using one of his original photographs, this piece forms part of an ongoing exploration into how historic images can be reinterpreted through alternative photographic processes. Rather than simply preserving the original, the cyanotype allows it to evolve, acquiring new textures, new moods and a renewed visual language shaped by light, chemistry and craftsmanship. The result is both intimate and universal - a meditation on movement, memory and the invisible currents that quietly connect us all. Why this piece? Unique handmade cyanotype created in 2026 Produced from an original Michael Joseph photograph Original image taken in Clapham, London, in 1987 Traditional cyanotype process using natural Dordogne sunshine Rich, radiant Prussian-blue palette with beautiful tonal depth Presented in a crisp white conservation mount that enhances the composition Every print is entirely unique and impossible to reproduce exactly A harmonious blend of archival photography and alternative photographic chemistry Part of Justine Joseph's ongoing cyanotype reinterpretation series A photograph transformed into a dreamlike landscape, where swimmers become spectral silhouettes, water becomes memory, and stillness speaks louder than movement. #MichaelJoseph #JustineJoseph #SwimmingOpposite #PoolLadies #Cyanotype #AlternativePhotography #PrussianBlue #HandmadePrint #FineArtPhotography #OneOfAKindArtwork #PhotographicAlchemy #SlowPhotography #LightAndShadow #WaterAndWonder #GalleryArt