Photographer Simon Dawson spent 10 hours wading through waist deep floodwater as parts of the River Thames reached its highest levels in more than 60 years causing widespread flooding.
Starting at the Thames Barrier, closed for a record 18th consecutive time to reduce the risk to the capital from tidal surges, Simon recorded the dramatic scenes affecting homes and businesses stretched out along the river as far as Datchet, a small village in Berkshire, some 30 miles from the barrier.
Our photo editor chatted with Simon, to find out what the shoot was like:
Its not like the English to complain about the weather! Why was this rain different to most?
Well yes, we Brits do like a good moan about the weather, but this was something else. It has been one of the wettest winters on record and the South East was particularly hard hit. The rivers swelled covered huge swathes of land destroying homes and businesses.
Where did you go to photograph the floods?
I headed to the Surrey, Berkshire border just on the edge of London. I grew up a few miles from there so I knew the area well, and I knew it had been badly affected.
It’s not your usual beat, what preparations did you make? Did you need to waterproof your camera?
Well I started the day outside a court waiting for an insider trading case in a shirt and trousers! I always carrying wellies in my car boat, but I knew these wouldn’t be enough so I went a purchased a pair of waders. It wasn’t a particularly fetching look.
