"I am obsessed with water. It represents life, grace, strength, and fluidity. Coupled with that obsession is my love of the artistic movement in the field of wedding photography referred to as "Trash the Dress." I have my own pet name for it, but the originator, John Michael Copper coined the phrase that has been eagerly and lovingly accepted by photography communities all around the world. The original color version of this image was beautiful, but this black and white version was breathtaking. I loved the composition and the black and white tonalities. It made me stand back and sigh when I looked at it. It made me wonder what she was thinking when she closed her eyes and let herself go floating peacfully into the water as if she didn't have a care in the world. I love creating beautiful, romantic images that tell a story and create a distinctive mood. I want my viewers to feel my sadness, joy, and playfulness as they look at my images. Photography is such a wonderful and expressive medium that forces me to utilize new ways of thinking, composing, and viewing the world around me. This image was the fuition of that magic." -- B. Mendez "The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera." Dorothea Lange
