09/11/2026
My camera housing is full of air, which keeps it afloat, but to counter the buoyancy, I wear a f***y pack filled with river rocks. I have to let out most of my breath to go under, so I'm down there, nearly out of air from the beginning, and I haven't even taken a shot. I let my lungs burn, over and over again. Water goes up my nose, because that's what happens when you run out of bubbles.
It's a physical feat. Plus the water is cold and I'm fighting a current. Add to that the tint of my goggles, the minuscule viewfinder, and the atmosphere of the water between me and my subject—and I can't see much. I have to trust my instincts and try my best to keep my subject in frame.
It's really freaking hard. And incredibly fun and rewarding.
I am in awe of these dynamic women and their beautiful, strong bodies. Collectively, these four mamas, all over 40, have grown 8 babies. We all have complicated lives, but we protected this time to come together. Collaboration, dress up, play, laughter, vulnerability, trust, connection, creation. It makes me feel alive.
