Dark Waters

Immerse yourself in the haunting beauty of Dark Waters, Kristine Potter's evocative second monograph. This compelling work delves into the American Southern Gothic landscape, drawing inspiration from the macabre "murder ballads" of the 19th and 20th centuries. Potter's richly detailed black-and-white photographs capture the eerie atmosphere and characters of these songs, portraying the American South as a stage for untold stories of violence and mystery. In Dark Waters, the riverscapes—places with names like Murder Creek and Deadman's Pond—become the chilling backdrops for the tales of unnamed women central to these ballads. Potter's portraits and landscapes reflect on the cultural glamorization of violence against women, a theme that resonates from historical ballads to modern cinema and television. With each image, Potter evokes a palpable sense of threat and foreboding, exploring the unsettling reality that women often face. The book includes a gripping short story by Rebecca Bengal, enhancing the mood of anxiety and anticipation that permeates Potter's work. Dark Waters is a mesmerizing exploration of the dark undercurrents of American cultural history, making it an essential addition for those intrigued by photography, Southern Gothic, and the interplay of myth and reality.