When we speak of endometriosis, it is often in hushed tones, if we speak of it at all. It is an invisible illness, wrapped in silence, often misunderstood, and endured by millions of women around the world. With REBORN, I wanted to give that silence a form, a voice, a movement.
This underwater short film is not just an artistic project, it is a visceral tribute. A tribute to chronic pain, to a femininity sometimes diminished, and to the quiet strength that continues to rise again and again, even in the shadows.
The Origin of the Project
REBORN was born from an unexpected encounter. In September 2022, during a freediving session at sea, I met Coraline. She lives with endometriosis, and yet she has given birth to three children. She told me how freediving had helped her reclaim her body, manage the pain, and reconnect with her breath.
That conversation stirred something deep in me. Endometriosis affects several women in my family, myself included. That day, I confided something I rarely share, that I had been told I might never be able to have children. Coraline smiled gently and told me about her three pregnancies, each one unexpected, each one precious.
What we didn’t know at the time was that I was already pregnant. Just a few weeks along. I found out two months later during a medical exam related to my endometriosis. That coincidence became a catalyst. It solidified our shared desire to create something together, to turn pain into imagery, and to give hope a body and a breath, even within illness.
© Alison Bounce
With REBORN, I hope to awaken a sense of recognition.
For those who suffer in silence, may this film be a mirror.
For those looking from the outside, may it be a bridge.
My Relationship with Water
Before I ever imagined filming underwater, my connection to water was uneasy. Not a fear exactly, but a quiet discomfort, a kind of distance I didn’t fully understand.
Photography changed everything. It became a bridge. Through the lens, I started to see water differently, to observe its rhythm, its silence, and its ability to welcome what is unspoken. Gradually, it became not just my creative space, but a place of healing and reconciliation.
© Alison Bounce
And for everyone, may [REBORN] remind you that healing, though imperfect, can become an artwork. A breath. A form of strength.
Why Underwater?
Water holds memory. It demands surrender and strips away all masks. Underwater, the body becomes light, suspended, almost sacred. Breathing is no longer automatic, it becomes a conscious act. Pain, once locked away, finds space to unfold.
For years, I have chosen water not just for its aesthetic, but for what it reveals. It gives form to what usually remains invisible, hidden beneath the skin.
The Filming Process
We filmed REBORN in two stages, first in a pool, then in the sea.
In the pool, I could control every element. We blocked all external light and created a zenithal lighting setup using overhead spotlights. Underwater, I sculpted the image with Ikelite DS232 Video Lights and DS160 Strobes. Everything was filmed at 100 frames per second, 1/200 shutter speed, and f/2.8 aperture, allowing each movement to stretch and breathe.
At sea, the energy shifted. We kept the same frame rate and shutter speed, but adjusted to f/8 to adapt to natural light. The water was cold, 17°C (62ºF), and each take was done in apnea, with Franck by my side as a safety diver. One of the most challenging parts was creating the symbolic shape of the endometriosis ribbon underwater, using black fabric. That fabric speaks of suffocation, of invisibility, of pain that takes up space without being seen. Moving with it, in the cold, in suspension, required both physical focus and emotional surrender.
© Alison Bounce
Symbolism and Intention
Every element in REBORN carries meaning. The black fabric embodies oppression, exhaustion, and the weight of what cannot be spoken. Stillness reflects the inertia of medical processes, the waiting, the stalling. Sudden movements echo resistance, the invisible battle waged inside the body. There is no miracle cure. But there is presence, endurance, and sometimes, unexpected beauty.
The closing message of the film is a breath of hope. Coraline and I wanted to show that even in pain, there is light. That even when the body feels broken, it can hold grace. That movement, when rooted in truth, becomes its own kind of voice.
A Call to Feel
With REBORN, I hope to awaken a sense of recognition.
For those who suffer in silence, may this film be a mirror.
For those looking from the outside, may it be a bridge.
And for everyone, may it remind you that healing, though imperfect, can become an artwork. A breath. A form of strength.
© Alison Bounce
A tribute to chronic pain... and to the quiet strength that continues to rise again and again, even in the shadows.
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Ambassador Alison Bounce is a French underwater photographer who creates poetic and emotional portraits inspired by mythology, motherhood and movement. Her sessions take place in the sea or in calm waters, offering a gentle and powerful space for women, couples and families to reconnect with themselves. Her work explores transformation, rebirth and self-expression. A journey shaped by water and light. Check out her work at alisonbounceunderwater.com and follow her on Instagram @alisonbounceunderwater
