Aldara Ortega

Her photographs communicate the transformational experience of being submerged in water, achieving an almost meditative state for subject and viewer alike. There is an inherent energy and joy borne of the natural characteristics of water that is only enhanced by the extension of arms, textiles, and shadows that Ortega is able to capture.

In addition to her underwater portrait series, Agua Viva, Ortega also examines the characteristics of water. Her series, Liquid Desert, examines the refractions of light that create submerged desert landscapes. Additional series, such as Refractions and Reflections, encapsulate Ortega's desire for reflection: whether through the literal image, or through a mental mindset that is manifest in shadow.