Australian Tokyo Olympians Mollie O’Callaghan and Isaac Cooper have both launched their campaigns for Paris 2024 at this week’s Hancock Prospecting Queensland Championships in Brisbane and photographer Wade Brennan has been there for every start and every stroke.
And we at Swimming World have been privileged to publish Wade’s images from one of the world’s best aquatic photographers who has brought our reports to life in his capacity as Swimming Queensland photographer.
LAUNCH PAD #1: Mollie O’Callaghan. Photo Courtesy Wade Brennan Photography
So we thought we would take this opportunity to introduce Wade to our readers – to the man behind the lens – a Brisbane-based ex-swimmer and masters swim coach who has successfully combined his love of swimming and underwater life with his love of photography – creating @Wadesphotos on Instagram.
And sometimes there are photos that land in your Inbox that have the “Wade Wow Factor” and these two backstrokes starts from Mollie O and Isaac, taken from 50 metres away certainly made our day.
Both so good that we really had to combine both images into one for the featured shot with Wade’s originals published individually.
LAUNCH PAD #2: Isaac Cooper. Photo Courtesy Wade Brennan Photography
And it was these two backstrokes starts that rocketed two of the world’s best, to their respective Queensland Championship wins – Mollie O still remarkably sharp after a “hell week” of racing to clock 27.43 – just outside her best and Australian record holder Isaac’s 24.98 to maintain his one-lap dominance.
The clarity of Mollie’s hands on entry and her extraordinary ability to power off the start and clear the surface of the water makes this start, picture perfect.
The thing that caught our eyes with the Isaac Cooper shot was the symmetry depicted in his body position,
THE MAN HIMSELF: Wade J Brennan @wadesphotos
And Wade’s take on these backstroke masterpieces? “I needed a quick camera, hence the Sony A1 to freeze the action, with the 400 2.8 lens (Settings- 1/1600; ISO 2500/F 2.8) to reach from one end of the 50m pool to the other, bumping up the settings to keep it bright.”
His passion has already taken him to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, this year’s World Championships in Fukuoka and one of Speedo’s go to photographers for their international ambassadors.
And when he is not on pool deck or sitting on the bottom of the pool capturing his trademark underwater shots, Wade can be found with Swim Tours Australia, escorting groups of swimmers through the turquoise waters of Queensland’s picturesque Lady Elliot Island, with all it’s amazing wildlife, from whales and manta rays to turtles and the ever-present schools of tropical fish.
A man who has a simple philosophy on life….” Just an Aussie bloke having some fun with his camera.”
Here is a look through Wade’s lens taken at Lady Elliot Island – 370km north of Brisbane.
Photo Courtesy Wade Brennan Photography
The coverage provided with his photos has been exceptional!