
Maria Svarbova
Maria Svarbova is an incredibly disciplined photographer. Fascinated by the sterile, geometric aesthetic of old Socialist Era swimming pools in her native country of Slovakia, Svarbova used them as both location and inspiration for her fantastically regimented, retroesque photo series called Swimming Pool. The photographer is in control of all aspects of her shoots, from the perfect positioning of her models to the vintage-feeling colors and backgrounds to the impersonal lighting and spectacularly-arranged shadows and reflections.
“The figures are mid-movement, but there is no joyful playfulness to them. Frozen in the composition, the swimmers are as smooth and cold as the pools tiles…Despite the retro setting, the pictures somehow evoke a futuristic feeling as well, as if they were taken somewhere completely alien.”
But though her intent is to remove the joy from her photos, I find them incredibly compelling and not at all depressing. Their eerie perfection feels surreal, like weird scenes from a confusing-but-not-entirely-unpleasant dream. I absolutely love them! (But I know I’m something of an odd duck.)
You can look at all of Svarbova’s hypnotic photos on her website.
All images property of Maria Svarbova.
December 1, 2017 at 8:52 am
I like them too. In fact I expected them to dive in and do their routine. My aunt was on a swim team like this in college .
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December 1, 2017 at 9:34 am
I took synchronized swimming lessons in junior high. Loved it. Between that and Esther Williams’ hijinks, I have always been hooked!
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December 1, 2017 at 10:14 am
They are mesmerizing, just as you describe them. The way she uses color is fantastic.
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December 1, 2017 at 10:15 am
She really manages to achieve a retro feel. So skillful!
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December 1, 2017 at 12:50 pm
Very eerie, I do sense a kind of futuristic feel to them. Sterile.
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December 1, 2017 at 9:02 pm
Interesting. I found them to be more quirky. Like a parody of sterility.
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December 1, 2017 at 9:41 pm
That too! 😁😜
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December 1, 2017 at 4:58 pm
I find these really pleasing to look at. First of all, I love to see bright red juxtaposed against shades of blue. I also love Busby Berkeley dance routines and these images make me think of those geometric and symmetrical patterns formed out of human bodies.
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December 1, 2017 at 9:13 pm
Me, too, of course. It’s so funny how much our tastes overlap!
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December 1, 2017 at 9:33 pm
It really is!
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December 1, 2017 at 11:22 pm
I love patterns and these are the perfect patterns my eyes crave. Amazing work.
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December 2, 2017 at 10:51 am
I love that he’s kind of reinvented cubism.
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December 2, 2017 at 3:40 am
Interesting shots! I really liked them.
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December 2, 2017 at 10:52 am
I’m glad! I really liked them, too.
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