Caleb Stein, a British photographer, fell in love with Andrea Orejarena, his now-partner, during his time studying at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. Through Andrea, he discovered a secluded swimming spot near the Hudson River, hidden behind a drive-in theater on the city's outskirts. This location, which Stein has returned to every summer since 2013, has become the backdrop for his photographic series Down by the Hudson, recently published by Palo Press. The collection has received praise in the Anglo-Saxon press for its emotional depth and sensitivity. Poughkeepsie, a small city of about 30,000 people located 90 minutes north of New York City, once thrived due to its industrial past, particularly its ties to IBM. However, the city faced significant decline in the early 1990s with the loss of manufacturing jobs. Stein’s work does not focus on the decay of post-industrial America but instead highlights the resilience and beauty found in everyday life. His photographs explore themes of identity, belonging, and the American frontier, offering a nuanced perspective on modern society. The portraits in Down by the Hudson are intimate and spontaneous, capturing the androgynous and delicate nature of his subjects. The series, which Stein describes as focusing on "youth and life," includes moments of play, water, intimacy, and nature as a sanctuary. It features teenagers engaging in their daily lives—some participating in the MAGA movement, others interacting with undocumented immigrants under the shadow of ICE enforcement. These images show young people in their complexity, navigating issues of identity and community. Stein's photographs blend individual portraits with group shots, creating a narrative that honors each person’s story. Over the years, some of his subjects have become close friends, while others have only passed through the swimming site briefly. Regardless, Stein took the time to engage with each person, fostering a connection that enriches the visual storytelling. His work feels like a diary, where the observer and the observed become intertwined in a shared experience. In Stein’s images, water is more than a setting—it becomes a second skin, a fluid and graceful element that young bodies move through in a kind of choreographed dance. It offers a moment of respite from the pressures of daily life, a space for purification and renewal. Stein, who once worked as an assistant to renowned photographer Bruce Gilden, draws inspiration from the words of Martinique philosopher Edouard Glissant: “I change, through exchange with the other,” emphasizing transformation without losing one's essence. Down by the Hudson will be featured at the 29th edition of Paris Photo, taking place from November 12 to 15 at the Grand Palais.