Triggered: Barbara Jane Levine
© Barbara Jane Levine
January 1, 2020 was a frigid day, air temperature was hovering around 30F. I went to Coney Island to photograph the annual Polar Bear Plunge. The official plunge was set for 1PM when the swimmers were going to run down the beach along a delineated path. I waited on the outside edge of the path close to the water. The beach started filling up with observers. Official Polar Bear Guards were gathering inside the path, along with Fogo Azul NYC band serenading the crowd. The first group of bathers, all of whom were dressed in crazy costumes, started running down the beach for their turn. I realized that I needed to relocate to find a better vantage point. I worked my way around the crowd and wandered over to where the exhilarated swimmers were emerging from the water. I photographed people running up the beach searching for their towels and clothes near the cheering spectators. The swimmers were shivering, celebrating their accomplishment in the freezing cold air of the New Year. The smiling woman in the image donned her hat obscuring the number twos of her 2020 eyeglasses.
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