The Story Behind “My Lovelies”

Sometimes I call this portfolio ‘my lovelies’.

It’s a name my friend Kat gave them years ago, and it still fits perfectly.

Áine is my favorite in the entire series. She’s named for my mother—Áine being the Gaelic version of Ann—and the whole body of work is really about her. I created these images after her death in 2011, and the process became a way to stay connected to her spirit.

The original spark of inspiration came from Cathy Daley’s work. When I saw her drawings, I felt that unmistakable tug of “I wish I had created that.” Her floating dresses and expressive forms made me think about movement, weightlessness, and the space between presence and absence.

I realized the buoyancy I wanted could only come from water. So off I went to a swimming pool with my model and good friend Marlene—armed with absolutely zero knowledge of shooting underwater.

I also wasn’t ready to invest in underwater housing for my Canon, so I borrowed a friend’s camera—the kind used by divers. And wow… underwater photography is a whole different world. I couldn’t see the digital back. There was no eyepiece. And I definitely didn’t realize that I would float to the surface every time I tried to take a photo because I didn’t have weights.

Eventually, Marlene and I admitted defeat and headed to the shallow end of the pool. She created movement in just the lower half of her body while I held the camera at hip level, shooting blindly and hoping for magic. Every so often, I’d duck under a towel at the edge of the pool to make sure something—anything—was actually turning out.

It was awkward and imperfect and completely experimental. But honestly, it was the only way to get the fabric to float with that ethereal quality I had envisioned.

And when I finally saw the results, I knew the struggle was worth it. The movement, softness, and quiet emotion in these images captured exactly what I had hoped for—something tender, lifted, and full of memory.

Áine, and all “my lovelies,” still hold that place in my heart.

Would love to hear your comments about this portfolio.

Be well….be creative,