In April 2011, while visiting Puerto Rico, I photographed teenagers jumping from the San Antonio Bridge into Condado Lagoon in San Juan. I was drawn to the action, but I also wanted to capture the moments around it: the anticipation before a jump, the gestures exchanged between friends, and the reactions as each person hit the water.
Looking back at these photos, I remember the energy and how at ease the teenagers seemed. They had gathered on the bridge to spend time together, taking turns jumping into the lagoon and watching one another. The scene was spontaneous and full of life, and I wanted to capture it as it unfolded.
Bridge Jumping: The Moments Between the Jumps
What interests me about this series is not simply the spectacle of jumping from a bridge. It’s the people and the small moments that make the experience personal.
One photograph shows a girl raising a peace sign just before she jumps. The tension was visible, but so was the thrill. The photo captures the exact moment fear transforms into courage.
In another photograph, a boy gives me a thumbs-up after surfacing. His gesture makes the image feel like a brief exchange between him and me. He acknowledges my presence, and I capture his response. It’s a small moment, but one that gives the series a sense of connection.
Another image was pure serendipity. It catches a jumper as his feet skimmed the water’s surface. His timing makes it seem as though he is walking on water. I like how the photograph transforms an ordinary action into something unexpected, simply by freezing it at the right moment.
These are the moments I remember most clearly. They reveal the teenagers’ different personalities and give the photographs a life beyond the action itself.
A Record of Youth and Everyday Life
I took these photographs before smartphones became such a constant part of everyday life. Some young people used phones and cameras to take pictures, but they hadn’t yet become the constant presence they are today. These teenagers were spending time together, jumping from the bridge and enjoying the moment.
I don’t want to suggest that life was necessarily better back then, but the photos remind me of a time when life seemed simpler, and teenagers seemed happier, at least in these moments. They capture the pleasure of meeting friends, finding something to do, and sharing an experience.
For me, this is part of what makes photography worthwhile. A photo can preserve an ordinary moment and bring it back to life years later. These images take me back to San Juan and to a group of young people whose names I never knew but whose energy I can still remember.cripted—teens form friendships mid-air, laughter echoes across the lagoon, and they share a thrill they don’t need to record to remember.
Bridge Jumping San Juan, Puerto Rico: Looking Back
The San Antonio Bridge provided the setting, but the teenagers made the photographs. Their gestures, expressions, and movement gave me the details I wanted to capture.
What began as an opportunity to photograph an unusual street scene became a record of youth, friendship, and a shared adventure. I return to these images not just for the jumps, but for the fleeting moments around them: a nervous sign of victory, a thumbs-up from the water, and a figure seemingly walking across the lagoon.
Together, they offer a glimpse of an afternoon in San Juan in April 2011. For me, these photos capture a time when life seemed simpler, and teenagers seemed happier, enjoying each other’s company without the distractions of smartphones and social media.
Project Details
Location: San Antonio Bridge, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Date: April 2011
Camera: Canon EOS 5D
Lens: Canon EF 24–105mm f/4L IS USM
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