Creative campaign sheds light on sewage pollution with ocean-based toilet scenes

Using a porcelain toilet in ocean scenes, Fryer’s bold images have gained national attention, sparking conversation and even earning a spot on the British Photography Awards shortlist

A Devon photographer is raising awareness of sewage pollution with a series of images which feature people sitting on a toilet.

Freddie Fryer’s images use a toilet in various ocean-based scenes – including a surfer named Kai riding the waves. Another has a local crab fisherman sitting on the toilet in the ocean reading a newspaper with articles related to sewage pollution.

The second shoot in the series shows three local wild swimmers, Als, Saffron and Lydia, with one reading a paper with the front page headline: ‘Outrage over record discharges of sewage into rivers and seas’.

Mr Fryer, 34, said: “Every subject in my images has a connection to the water – the project explores as many different groups and their interest in clean water.”

His project has been highlighted by the BBC and his wild swimmers photograph even shortlisted for a British Photography Award in the portrait category.

Mr Fryer, who is based in Bantham, was started the series after reading news headlines and stories highlighting the widespread sewage pollution across the UK.

“It was seeing all the local areas being so negatively affected by it,” he explained. “Then I just had the light bulb moment of representing this issue visually by showing people in a typically private moment as if their toilet expulsions were going straight into the water.

“So I decided to go and buy a porcelain toilet and have it as centrepiece for every shot and have it physically in the water. I have always believed in humour to make an impact.”