Down by the Hudson: Photographs of Wappinger Creek

Photographer Sanjay and Sherika's images of Wappinger Creek, a swimming hole in New York's Hudson Valley, are featured in a Guardian gallery. The series, titled 'Down by the Hudson', documents the creek's visitors and its role as a place of healing and community. The photographs, taken between 2018 and 2025, capture swimmers, friends, and families in intimate moments. Notable images include 'Rain Storm' (2024), taken during a downpour with a plastic bag protecting the camera, and 'Shamus in Embryo Pose' (2022), depicting a man curled up in the water on the day Roe v Wade was overturned. The project began when photographer Andrea introduced the artist to the creek during their time at Vassar College. The work also references Esther Williams's synchronized swimmers, which inspired a restaged scene with three brothers. The creek's name, Wappinger, is of Native American origin, and the artist reflects on the millennia of people who have rested there. The gallery includes 13 photographs with accompanying artist statements, offering a personal and poetic view of a cherished natural space.