The river became a focus of inspiration after working for many years along the Mississippi River’s levees, which culminated into my first monograph, Levee.  The present work took shape after photographing several women engaged in cold plunging in the rivers of upstate New York.

Their motivation is to relieve the distorting effects of anxiety, depression, and change in life circumstances.  After entering the cold waters to photograph them, I took notice of the line across the lens that separated what was above and below the surface of the water. 

The various transformations in their bodies and mental state by the cold river water is not visually definable. However, what is rendered above and below the surface line distinguishes the contrast between the light through the water and above. What is seen and how we experience the world are in contrast and in harmony.  The duality exists in the same space of the frame.  Perceptions of what we see and how we experience are put into question.