Batismo -- In Gleeson Paulino’s dreamlike series, water serves as an immersive reconnection to his native Brazil, acting as a catalyst of renewal, forgiveness, encounter, and play. -- Gleeson Paulino’s evocative body of work takes the concept of baptism as one of immersive reconnection. Born in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Paulino was raised in a conservative Evangelical family. His childhood and early adolescent experiences were bound by the strict rules of religion, overwhelming his sense of self. The photographs that make up Batismo are arresting, the result of a searching, exploratory eye. Paulino’s compositions are simple, direct. Juxtaposed against the beauty of their color they draw the viewer in. For Paulino, Batismo is just the beginning. “There is so much to explore about my childhood, Brazil, the environment. Photography is the process that has made me,” he reflects. “It was therapeutic in the way that it helped me see the things I needed to see—including the beauty of Brazil.” -- See more photos, and read the excellent full story, here: LensCulture.com Photographs by Gleeson Paulino @gleesonpaulino Essay by Magali Duzant @magaliduzant