In 2005, I began working on a grant from the Creative Capital Foundation for the creation of an underwater photographic series entitled, Fluid. Using myself as the model, the images describe human interaction with water ranging from drowning to drought. They are a portrayal of the environmental impact of societies and the complex meaning of water in our world. This series is created in all types of water from swamps and bathtubs, to sewers, oceans and the ubiquitous desert oasis.

Some of the research behind this project is astounding not to say disturbing. According to a 2002 report by the Pacific Institute of Oakland, California, over 76 million people will perish from water-related disease by 2020 unless urgent action is taken, The report found that water-related diseases could claim more lives than the global AIDS pandemic by 2020 unless major changes are made. The current best estimates of water-related deaths fall between 2 and 5 million deaths per year. Additionally, the lack of safe drinking water is the primary cause of disease in the world. Experts say rivers and aquifers in many parts of the world are being hit by industrial pollution, sewage disposal or excessive extraction. This worsens water quality, inflicts shortages and, in tense border regions, even exacerbates the risk of war.

I am a certified diver and I love the water. I always viewed the depths as the perfect environment to capture a unique photographic experience. The descision to dive into issues relating to water and environmental disruption arrived after being evacuated in the Prague Flood of 2002. This was coupled, two weeks later, with a fine round of decompression illness from diving in the Adriatic off Croatia. I had seen a tougher side of water and decided to investigate further. I found that flash floods have increased in recent years, and are the number one weather-related killer in the United States. There were six in the 1950s; seven in the 1960s; eight in 1970s; 18 in the 1980s; and 26 in the 1990s. The increased toll from such floods is attributed to increased and more urbanized populations on sites that are ready targets for flash floods.

I proposed this project to the Creative Capital Foundation early in 2004. The previous images I had begun to construct contained anxieties of panic and confusion. However, on December 26th, the Tsunami hit South-East Asia. This catastrophe became the catalyst for the reassessment of my vision. How was I going to create responsible yet thought-provoking images after such a horrific event? I was forced to face that the emotion I was portraying was often too close to the visions that the media was broadcasting.

Returning to my research for more answers, it seemed everyone was talking about the same issues. However now global warming was once again brought to the forefront. In theory billions of people will be at greater risk from storms, floods and droughts in the years ahead. Evidence gathered by the United Nations and the World Water Council states that by 2025, half the world's population will be living in areas that are at risk from storms and other weather extremes. The big problem is that most countries aren't ready to deal adequately with the severe natural disasters that we get now, a situation that will become much worse as storms and droughts become more pervasive.

The images in Fluid are all constructions. Although made entirely on location, they are not documents of natural disaster. They are created in various environments to mine the very depths of our relationship with water on this planet. From famine caused by drought, to tsunamis, and the very question of global warming itself. These are the issues. Not intending to seek out gratification from the difficult content, the photographs will describe the need for more awareness and to stand as a reminder that nature, in its truest sense of the sublime, does not care who we are.