Rebirth: The Journey of Baptism

In the photographic series "In the Beginning," I documented the ceremony of baptism. Baptism is portrayed as a journey of rebirth, capturing the transformative power of water as a sacred medium. Drawing on the poem "What if Water was God" by Nigerian poet and playwright Niyi Osundare, the series illustrates the spiritual essence of water and its association with the beginning and the birth of something.

"What if Water was God? That God is in us and all around us" — this line resonates with the act of baptism, where immersion in water represents the divine presence, purifying and enveloping the individual as they begin a new spiritual life. The water symbolizes the divine essence, marking the start of this journey.

"God takes the shape of whatever container God appears in" speaks to water’s adaptability, mirroring the way each baptismal experience is unique yet universal. Each photograph captures individuals from different backgrounds, faiths, and journeys, yet the common element of water binds their experiences, embodying both creation and rebirth.

"Every thunderstorm was a church without walls" reflects the boundlessness of the divine in nature, paralleling the setting of these baptisms in open waters. Here, water is the church, the sacred space without boundaries, symbolizing an "in the beginning" moment that transcends walls and traditions.Each image in the series thus reflects the theme of creation and beginning, inviting viewers to see baptism as an act of faith and as a connection to the divine flow within and around us.

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