This is a street photography square frame sequence of 10 photos that I took at a waterfall near Ella, Sri Lanka. I visited many waterfalls in various countries, but only in Sri Lanka did I witness a culture where waterfalls are treated as multi-purpose public baths. This is striking, because it points to a taste of connection with nature that we have lost in my part of the world, in that people are actually using natural resources to wash their clothes, take their baths, brush their teeth, shave, and have a bit of a swim after, all without the western anxiety for privacy. This is in contrast to showers in artificial bathrooms and washing clothes even more artificial laundry rooms. I have observed that Sri Lankans visit waterfalls with their families or friends or on their own even, and treat this as a social activity - like going for a picnic. I have seen some families have their picnic right by the waterfall as well. What is remarkable is that no one feels like they have to be protected from the public by four walls when they wash up; this is something everyone does and why not do it altogether? And we can be social about it! I so did admire the naturality in this. All in all, I found that waterfalls witness both sides of life in Sri Lanka: the social and the intimate.
This sequence shows two women at the waterfall starting out with washing some clothes and then taking their own bath and then having a bit of fun with it,too.
