My project “Swimming Towards the Sun” was born out of my love for long and often cold swims at Walden pond. There is a wonderful community of people swimming throughout the year, supporting and encouraging each other. We come here to keep our heads clear and our hearts open. It's a beautiful way to observe the seasons, and also worry about them. The water level is high. The once world famous Walden ice is now only around for a month or two a year. I bring along my camera to share the magic of this place and community and preserve it, as I know it, in my photographs.  

I come to the Pond every week, like one comes to church. I swim slowly, taking in the morning light, clumsy with my strokes, head above the water.  It takes forever to swim across and back, and I love it. I come out a different person, a little better than before, for a bit. My first year swimming through the winter I meet ice. It’s sharp like glass. Breaking it feels good. It freezes back together overnight.  Getting into the water is unbearable, but afterwards I feel invincible. I meet other women who are into this. We all come here for the same thing - to leave something dark and heavy in this water, and step out strong and new. We glow in the winter sun.