Underwater

2020 - 2021 // Strawberry Lake, MN

A pandemic Portrait Series

Water is vital for all forms of life. Although it provides no calories or organic nutrients, water plays an important role in our world. It is the centerpiece of all life.

As we strive for a happier and more fulfilling life, we can draw a lot of inspiration from water. Despite being soft and humble, it cuts through hard rocks because of its patience and persistence.

So when life throws obstacles in your way, be like water and either cut through them or form a new path that will lead you to your goals and dreams.

The “Underwater” series was not only inspired by water, but also informed by a previous project. For several years, I have been taking water portraits of my family at our cabin on Strawberry Lake. At the time, I was concerned about protecting the water and wanted to do a series of images that explored my relationship to this natural resource. Line 3 was in litigation in our region, and I would stop and photograph the field of pipes just outside Lake George waiting to pump oil underneath this resource. I would juxtapose the images of aqua colored pipes against portraits of my family surrounded by water in all its reflective beauty.  Of course, there is no other subject closer to me than family and my love for nature and the memories made at our cabin in Minnesota.  My family would become my subject, surrounded by water, staring directly into the camera, adding importance to this precious resource. Deepening my relationship with both family and this resource I wanted to protect. But, after the pandemic hit, this project took another turn. 

I moved the subject underwater. Water creates such fascinating frames that I thought it needed to take center stage and envelop the subject, becoming the veil or bubble we were all forced to experience. Water, color, reflection and light painting over the subject.

I don’t know about you, but I felt isolated and underwater. We all had our own experiences and this is mine. Inspired by isolation, I used water as a symbol to express what I was feeling. Water and light became my paintbrush to explore my own personal struggle of this turbulent time. Turbulence, Reaction, Isolation, Hope, Creation, Struggle. This is how I experienced it.

The rest I leave to you and your experiences.