Underneath

My intention for this project was to capture humans, exclusively women, in their most natural state. I wanted to combine human reaction with the element of water and capture the candid moments when they come together. The water acts as a mirror to reflect the person’s character. Being underneath the water, the person reacts intuitively within that environment, each in her own way. Each person has different thoughts, feelings, and experiences, which leads to their own introspection.

Being underwater causes a physical change within us. The first few seconds that you have submerged your heart rate drops dramatically. The pressure being put on your joints from gravity is reduced. Because of these changes, your body is much calmer, much more relaxed, and your brain responds accordingly. Your mind slows, your body lets go and your deepest thoughts are allowed to surface. All that’s left is your body’s natural response to the tranquility of this underwater environment.

As soon as the subjects submerge, they are surrounded by space: flowing, soft, boundless space. It is still and silent, yet always moving them, opening them up and swallowing them whole.

Baring

Going into this project, I ultimately fell in love with how perfect the subject matter is for statuesque form. The lines of the legs and the natural curves of the body so delicately shape a seamless structure of anatomy; it’s hard not to stand in awe of such beauty, such natural conformation of lines and form. The bodies invoke a sense of beauty not unlike that seen in the marble creations of Grecian times, and are at times reminiscent of Renaissance-like paintings. When we think of the human body, we think of the rules that we as a society have applied to it. The status quo is perfection, when in reality our most natural form is the purest form.

“While maintaining focus of anonymity, Baring plunges straight into the (often) dark realm of self-image. Where one may see only a nude figure, the artist is urging you to delve deeper. Not only into the photographs, but also inwardly to your own demons.

By disassociating the models with their names, faces, and histories you are forced to take a human body for exactly what it is… unique and beautiful. Judgment and hatred are not welcome, for these things are not instinctual – they are learned. So in a grand display of rebellion against these aberrant things that we have been taught, I urge you to not dwell on superficiality. Instead, dawdle around the photograph that reminds you the most of your own body and think about how hard you’ve been on yourself.”

-Sentiments by Kelsey Faye Pack